At the beloved 'Largo da Ordem' you find historic houses, the ruins of São Francisco and churches several hundred years old. Each Sunday a local colourful market takes place here, where you will find many handcrafts and chippies offering local, national or continental food. In such days there are performances on the fixed installed stage.

The historical centre has also many bars and restaurants offering live music to all kind of publics and also fancier restaurants.

Curitiba has lots of museums and theatres. Here is just a small selection:

Oscar Niemeyer - is the largest and most modern museum in Brazil. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer the so called 'eye' completes another of his constructions that he built himself and rests above an artificial pond. The art collection includes permanent and temporary collections.

Ópera de Arame - is a wire theatre with a glass roof so it is integrated into the surroundings. In 1992, it became a symbol of the city and hosts all types of shows. Next to the opera house is a quarry with a peculiar characteristic. This magical place hosts great cultural and artistic events (like concerts, plays etc.) on the open-air stage.

Teatro Guaíra - this is the largest theatre of Latin America featuring an enormous diversity of performances and spectacular acoustics. Artists from all over the world performing here!

Teatro Positivo - it is the newest theatre house in Curitiba and is doubtless the most modern one, maybe even in Brazil. Since its opening it has received many plays and musicians, being an excellent alternative to the customary culture scene of Curitiba.

Festival de Teatro de Curitiba (Theater festival of Curitiba) - is the second biggest theatre festival of the world. The festival occupies more than 35 theatres, squares, streets and alternative spaces.

Walk down the Rua XV de Novembro Avenue, which cuts through downtown Curitiba, and take in the view of some of the most important buildings here, such as Teatro Guaira and Universidade do Parana. At the end of this avenue, after crossing numerous squares, you reach the Rua das Flores or the Flower Street, the first pedestrian street in Brazil. Inaugurated in 1972, it is adorned with immaculate flower displays, and has some excellent bars and confectioneries.

You will not need a road sign to tell you that you have reached the Rua das Flores - the entire ambience changes. This is one of the main business office centres and houses numerous stores. It is the preferred venue for all sorts of cultural and political programmes. Flower Street is lined with black and white patterns and renovated buildings from the early twentieth century. Do not be surprised by the mime artists, clowns, musicians and magicians you are likely to see here. Although the shops close, the street is alive even after business hours are over, thanks to the Rua 24 Horas, a shopping arcade that you can reach through Praca Osorio.

The Botanical Garden of Curitiba or Jardim Botanico de Curitiba is modelled like the French gardens. The garden was opened for public viewing in 1991 and it is the fourth largest herbarium in the country. It is a fabulous haven for nature lovers. There is a cycle track, an exposition area, a library, an auditorium and a greenhouse.

The greenhouse is Curitiba's picture postcard landmark, standing at the entrance of the garden, its two-storey metal structure resembling the Crystal Palace in London. The greenhouse has an exotic and wide ranging collection of tropical and sub-tropical flora and fauna and attracts visitors and researchers from all over the world. The garden is open daily, between six in the morning and eight in the evening.

The Espaco Cultural Frans Krajcberg Museum (opened in October, 2003), located behind the greenhouse, has some of the most beautiful works of art. Particularly worth mentioning are 114 huge sculptures and the three carvings from tree trunks. Krajcberg, an artist of Polish Brazilian descent, has taken up the cause of environmental conservation and the carvings are his gift to the city. The museum is also a huge repertoire of videos, educational material and photographs, besides being a meeting place for artists. Krajcberg Space also boasts of an exhibition space and theatre. Except on Mondays, when the museum is closed, you can spend your time here from 9 am to 12 noon and 1 pm to 6 pm.

The first time traveller to this city is often left wondering about the large number of public parks in Curitiba. There is even a special bus that will take you around the parks. These parks are how Curitiba has immortalised the contribution of some nationalities in establishing the city, in its 300 year long history.

The 38,000 sq m spread of greenery in the German Woods or Bosque Alemão is a delight for children, who particularly enjoy the Hansel and Gretel House as well as the Philosopher's Tower from which one can get a fantastic view of Curitiba and the Ocean Ridge. The Woods also house a wooden neogothic church, dating back to 1933, with a concert hall aptly called Bach's Oratorium. A tribute to the German immigrants, the park has other attractions that include a library for children and a German Poetry Square with a replica of an old German building called the Casa Mila, which was at one time located in the centre of the city. The woods were part of the Schaffer family farm.

Curitiba, with a sizeable Italian community, has a park called the Italian Woods. During the numerous Italian theme parties such as the grape party and wine party the park hosts food and drink stalls. There are also allotted spaces for presentations and shows with themes of folklore and also a polenta pot.

Go to the Japan Square on a Thursday and attend the Tea Ceremony (9 am to 4 pm), to get the flavour of the ‘Land of the rising sun'. In 1993, the Culture House, the Tea House and the Japanese Portal were added to the square, which is decorated with 30 cherry trees, a gift of the Nipponese Empire. The Culture House is closed on Mondays and on other days it is open from 9 am to 6 pm. If you plan to go on your own (and not take the guided tours) then do check the timings of the various parks and museums.

The large environmental park located at the Barigüi river margins includes the Tingüi Park. A large effigy of a Tindiqüera chieftain is reminiscent of the Indian heritage of this place. The park also has a church, a replica of the original one existing in Paraná State, which is the Ukrainian Memorial in the park. The church holds a pêssankas and icons exhibition.

Visit the Tanguá Park, which has been modelled very innovatively - two de-activated quarries have been joined through a 45 m tunnel. You can cross the tunnel by foot or take a boat. The park covers an area of 450,000 sq m and is unique in its utilisation of unused space. The Tanguá Park joins the Tingüi and Barigüi parks and is part of the Barigüi river preservation project. Want to walk along a rippling brook - well, the Portugal Wood is just the thing for you. The tiles are adorned with stories of the Portuguese adventurers, who were pioneers in discovering new land, and excerpts from the works of famous poets. 

Do not miss Bosque João Paulo II (John Paul II Woods). This memorial to Polish immigration was opened in 1981, soon after Pope John Paul II´s visit to Curitiba. Composed of seven wooden houses you get an idea about the living of the immigrants at that time. These houses were original ones built by immigrant families in other parts of the cities and brought here. This area is close to downtown and is a coffee break, there are also delicious cakes and homemade beer available.

São Lourenço is also a pleasant option close to the Wire Opera House. An old glue factory gave way to this Creative Centre, with courses, workshops and exhibition rooms. The park also has a race track and a lake and is surrounded by native forest. There you will also find a track for rolling board, where especially on weekends locals have lots of fun.

The Opera House is again typical of the Curitibana architecture, with its tubular design. The lower level of the Opera House showcases artworks and the filtered light through the transparent ceiling creates a wonderful effect. The Opera de Arame has a total capacity of 1,800 seats with another exclusive 46 box seats. There is also an open concert area called the Espaco Cultural Paulo Leminski, where international bands perform to a crowd of 50,000 people. Located next to each other, both these renowned spots are in the Parque das Pedreiras Park. A beautiful lake, fed by a natural waterfall, adds to the ambience and aesthetics, while a café by the lake takes care of more consuming needs! Like most other Curitibana attractions, this is also closed on Monday's and opens from eight in the morning to 10 in the evening, on other days.

The Museu Oscar Niemeyer is a great photo opportunity if you are enthusiastic about photography. The famous ‘eye' shaped architecture in an area of 2000 sq m balanced on a 21 m high column leaves you stunned by its mere opulence and singularity. The ‘study centre' was built in 2002, to house Niemeyer's works. You can take the Linha Turismo bus, which has a service every half an hour and stops at the Museu. The study centre is open every day except Monday, in the afternoon from 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

The glass and wood structure of the University Livre do Meio Ambiente, Unilivre, is conspicuous because of the spiral sidewalk that runs external to the building and provides an entrée to a lookout that's at a height of 25 m. The University is located on the grounds of an old quarry.

Want to have a panoramic view of Curitiba? The Torre do Brasil Telecom, which is actually the telecom tower of the city, has been built with the intention of being an observation point as well. The tower, built in 1991, is 109.5 m high and is worth a visit.

The old town of Curitiba is a perfectly preserved area with a history that goes back more than 350 years. The cobblestone streets, which are pedestrian-only, make Largo da Ordem and the Praca Garibaldi Square is a perfect place for strolling along and begin to discover the old town. The streets are lined with beautiful eighteenth and nineteenth century buildings that have been restored and converted into trendy galleries, cafes, restaurants, pubs, antique shops and cultural centres.

Be sure to plan a Sunday in this area to see the great variety of local art and to experience the diverse cuisine at the Feira de Artesanato, all of which reflect the city's ethnic culture. Live music adds to the charm of the place for both the locals and the tourists. One of Curitiba's oldest building is a church called Igreja da Ordem, a huge structure that overlooks the Largo da Ordem and built in 1737. The church is quite plainly built, with the traditional Portuguese blue and white tiling being the only decorative elements along with the elaborately designed altars. It is considered one of the best examples of Portuguese church architecture in Brazil. The other historical building in this area is also a church. Uphill on the Praca Garibaldi you will find the Nossa Senhora. Built in 1737 in the colonial style by the slave population of the town, this church was completely reconstructed in 1946.

Curitiba's other attractions include the Curitiba Memorial - a space used for art, culture, folklore, both old and new. It is closed on Sundays and remains open only till one in the afternoon on other days. Take a look at the neo-classical buildings like the Palacio Garibaldi and the Casa Romario Martins, considered to be the oldest house in Curitiba. And don't miss the Flower Clock, which is set in a bed of seasonal flowers that are changed every three months.

The winding curves of the Estrada da Graciosa go over mountain ranges, and through the Atlantic Forest, to connect the plateau to the coastal regions. It starts 40 km to the north east of Curitiba from the BR-116 road, and goes further north and east. The picturesque route is dotted with picnic spots where you can rest. There is also a train route from Curitiba to Paranaguá, a southern port. This is one of the most fascinating journeys that tourists make in Curitiba. The rail lines are considered a challenging engineering feat considering the mountainous topography.

The Vila Velha State Park is famous for its sandstone formations. You can either go through a tour operator or by buses to Ponta Grossa. It is just 90 km from Curitiba and will take a maximum of one and half hours. These rock formations date back 350 million years. Vila Velha or ‘old village' has a visitor's centre that shows a short film on the history of the place. The rock formations or ‘Arenitos' of Vila Velha takes around half an hour to cover. There are various names for the formations depending on their shapes.