Curitiba is the capital of the state of Parana and the largest Polish community in Brazil. It is located off the beaten track and famous for its magnificent botanical garden.
The city was founded in the mid-seventeenth century, and experienced its greatest development in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as a result of increased migration from Europe. A large part of its inhabitants are descendants of settlers from Italy, Germany and Poland. The number of the local Polish diaspora is estimated at 100,000 to even 250,000. people.
There are not many monuments in Curitiba, but the historic center with colonial villas has been preserved here. The impressive building is the Cathedral of Our Lady, and when visiting Curitiba, visit the local museums. The Oscar Nemeyer Museum, an architect who designed, among others, the new capital of the country, Brasilia. There is also the Parana Museum and the Life Museum.
Curitiba's biggest attraction is the botanical garden, one of the most beautiful in Brazil. There is also a zoo in the city. The Lago da Ordem Market is a place where you can feel the local atmosphere and get to know the culture.
