Things to see and do Curitiba

Nicknamed the "Eye Museum", it is the largest Brazilian museum dedicated to visual arts, architecture, urbanism and design. This building is an architectural marvel from Niemeyer's imagination. In 2002, an annex was added to the building, which has since become the building's landmark. Niemeyer created a kind of raised flying saucer here, with an elliptical ramp and a glass façade in which the sky is reflected. A must see

This garden was created in 1991 and was designed "à la française". It leads to its impressive Art Nouveau palace inspired by 19th century English crystal palaces, a postcard of the city. A grandiose greenhouse of glass and steel is surrounded by lush vegetation.

The Museu Botânico/Herbário that it houses attracts researchers and botanists from all over the world. It holds a scientific herbarium of nearly 330,000 plants, one of the most important collections in Brazil. Exhibitions on environmental issues are regularly scheduled here.

A 109.5-metre-high, rather unsightly telephone tower has been transformed into a major tourist attraction in the city. From its summit, you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the city. You can see the whole metropolitan area of Curitiba and on a clear day you can even see the mountains of the Serra do Mar. Even though Curitiba is not very touristy, the waiting line can be long because you can only get up to five people in the elevator. Small telephone museum at the entrance of the tower.

It is the extravagant Italian quarter of Santa Felicidade, 20 minutes by bus, to take Tav. Nestor de Castro, behind the cathedral. It was the neighbourhood where Italian immigrants arrived between the late th and early th centuries. It was Dona Felicidade Borges who gave this neighbourhood to the Italian colony (hence his name), who devoted himself to the production of earth products. Today Santa Felicidade is the large gastronomic district in Curitiba, where you will find several Italian restaurants of quality.

Its clock overlooking the passages is part of the postcards of the city of Curitiba. In the popular "Parisian passage" style, the Rua 24 horas is a lively pedestrian crossing, with shops and restaurants, but remains open only until 10pm, contrary to its name. It's a bit of an expression of the soul and spirit of Curitiba. We like to walk there at the end of the day. Nearby, especially at weekends, it is easy to find music groups that play concerts. From coffee to happy hour, you can have a good time.

What was only a small wooden chapel in the early 18th century became the main church of the city. It is the main church of the Archdiocese of Curitiba, built between 1876 and 1893, and the seat of the eponymous parish, which was created in 1668, when Curitiba was still a village, under the authority of the Bishopric of Rio de Janeiro. The present building dates from the end of the 19th century, in neo-Gothic style, inspired by the cathedral of Barcelona.

It's the city's main park. The Curitibenses play football, go pedal boating on the lake or have a picnic. At weekends, some spend the whole day under the trees in the middle of a huge park. There is also an automobile museum and exhibition rooms. Ideal tracks for jogging are scattered throughout this beautiful park for those who want to stay in shape. As in Pampulha, friendly capybaras are walking around the lake. You can have a drink or eat on the terraces overlooking the vast lake.

This small white church is the oldest in the town, built in 1737. In the 19th century it was the temple of the Franciscans, then in the 19th century it was the parish of Polish immigrants. It was renovated in 1880 on the occasion of the visit of Emperor Dom Pedro II. It was at this time that the tower was built. It then became the preferred place of worship for German immigrants in the region. Since its last restoration in 1980, it has been home to the Curitiba Museum of Sacred Art.

In a comical Art Nouveau style (dating from 1876), the building housed until 1969 the government palace of Paraná. Today it has several exhibitions that pay tribute to the creation of Paraná and its society. There are coins, a piano from 1843 and a collection of weapons. In the side building, on exhibition panels there are scenes of immigrants arriving in Paraná, Tupi tribes and scenes reminiscent of the riots that enamelled the history of Paraná or Curitiba.