Tulip Inn Santa Felicidade

Wire Opera House at Quarry Park Designed by architect Domingos Bongestabs, the striking Wire Opera House (Ópera de Arame) is a round structure built in steel and covered with transparent polycarbonate. To reach the theater, visitors must cross a bridge over a lake. The opera house is surrounded by lush vegetation and waterfalls in an area that used to be a quarry. Espaço Cultural Paulo Leminski, named for a Curitiba poet, is an open-air, 5175-square-foot stage whose acoustics benefit from a 90-foot tall rock wall.

Historic DistrictIn the historic district, you can view constructions from the nineteenth century, such as the Red House (1891), or older, like the Church of St. Francis, which dates back to the eighteenth century. Casa Romário Martins, considered the oldest in Curitiba, is a tourist information center today.

Memorial de Curitiba, a cultural center which houses art exhibits, plays and musical presentations, contrasts sharply with the historic buildings around it, including the Red House, an 1891 construction to which it is connected. On Sundays, there is a craft fair in the historic district.

Botanical Garden Besides having a treasure trove of native plants, the Curitiba Botanical Garden is also known for its greenhouse, made of iron and glass and inspired in London's Crystal Palace. The garden's official name - Jardim Botânico Francisca Maria Garfunkel Rischbieter - celebrates a pioneer urbanist who greatly contributed to the urban planning of Curitiba. Other attractions are the Botanical Museum and a cultural center with works donated to Curitiba by artist Frans Krajcberg.

Santa FelicidadeCuritiba's restaurant district has a strong Italian heritage. Eat well and enjoy a glimpse of early Italian immigration in a district dotted with vintage homes such as the Culpi House, the Geranium House and the House of Paintings, which has original frescoes on the walls.

At the Italian Woods (Bosque Italiano), the Italian community has typical celebrations such as the Chicken, Polenta & Wine Festival in July. Santa Felicidade is also a great place to see Paraná's symbol tree - Araucaria angustifolia, a relative of the Monkey Puzzle Tree which is called araucária or pinheiro-do-Paraná (Paraná pine tree) in Portuguese.

Oscar Niemeyer MuseumIf you enjoy art and would like to experience one of architect Oscar Niemeyer’s masterpieces firsthand, you shouldn't miss the Oscar Niemeyer Museum in Curitiba. Set against the verdant Pope John Paul II Woods, the museum occupies two buildings, both designed by Niemeyer: a sprawling construction in straight lines dating back to 1967 and the Annex, built in 2002 and commonly known as the Eye. Artists from Paraná and other parts of Brazil have their work represented in the museum. Three rooms in the Eye are dedicated exclusively to photography.

Panoramic TowerThe 360-foot tall lookout tower allows travelers a 360° view of Curitiba and has a telephone museum on the ground floor. It is closed on Mondays.

Ukrainian MemorialAt the end of the nineteenth century, more than 20,000 Ukrainians immigrated to Paraná. At the memorial park in Curitiba, you can visit a Ukrainian wooden house and a replica of the St. Michael the Archangel church in Mallet, a town about 143 miles from Curitiba. You can also buy souvenirs.

Basilica Dedicated to Holy Mary, the Basilica - whose official name is Catedral Basílica Menor de Nossa Senhora da Luz de Curitiba - is located at the Praça Tiradentes, the city's historic berth and heart. A marker on the square signals the geodesic center of Curitiba.The cathedral was built between 1876 and 1893 on the site of an earlier church.

Shopping EstaçãoCuritiba has 30 shopping malls, but if you only have time to visit one, choose Shopping Estação. The name of the mall - "station" - comes from the restored train station that houses it. Besides 180 stores, eateries and a bowling alley, the mall has a train museum, a pharmacy museum, a puppet museum, an interactive nature exhibit and an interactive fragrance center.

Palácio Avenida One of Curitiba's greatest attractions is the building known as the Avenue Palace, the headquarters of HSBC Bank. But the best time to see it is during the Christmas season, when the bank-sponsored choir for underprivileged kids performs.Listening to the children, live or on TV, as they sing Christmas carols standing at the building's many windows has become a holiday tradition in Brazil.

Parks & WoodsCuritiba is a green city. You can tell from its urban planning and environment-friendly policies, initiated in the 1970s by mayor Jaime Lerner, and its parks and bosques, or woods, the best of which celebrate the city's multicultural heritage.