Once you land, you’ll know. And when you know, you’ll know. Curitiba is the capital of the southern Brazilian state of Paraná. Notable skyline features include the Panoramic Tower, with an observatory on top. Known as a cultural center, Curitiba is home to a number of performance venues, including the Wire Opera House, a structure of tubular steel with a transparent roof, and the huge Teatro Guaíra, with diverse programs. Curitiba is a deeply fascinating travel destination, though it is often overlooked in favor of Brazil’s coastal giants like Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. Located in the cooler southern region of the country, what makes Curitiba exceptionally special—and unusual—is its identity as a global pioneer in sustainable urban planning. Since the late 1960s, the city has treated architecture, public transit, and environmental preservation as interconnected art forms.
Instead of building massive concrete channels or traditional subway systems, Curitiba transformed its old quarries and flood-prone areas into an expansive network of innovative public parks, and created the world’s
first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system using iconic, transparent futuristic tube stations. The result is a highly liveable, “green capital” with a unique public aesthetic, a rich tapestry of European immigrant history (including Ukrainian, Polish, and Italian districts), and some truly unusual landmarks. The Jardim Botânico Municipal de Curitiba serves as the city’s most recognizable landmark, greeting visitors with its geometric, French-style formal gardens. The crown jewel is its striking three-domed, art nouveau greenhouse built of iron and glass, which was inspired by London’s mid-19th-century Crystal Palace and lights up against the skyline. Also, Sensory Garden: Features a dedicated path where visitors can touch and smell native plants, experiencing nature through textures and aromas. Capybara Sightings: The surrounding lawns are a popular spot to see Curitiba’s unofficial mascots—the native capybaras—roaming freely near the lakes.
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