Olá, amigos leitores! Hey, dear readers! How well do you know the estados brasileiros (Brazilian states)? Well, given these unusual times we are currently living in, chances are it might be a while before anyone is able to viajar (travel) and visit the lugares (places) on your wishlist. But we can still take this time to make plans for the future, right? So, in our sixth article, we will talk a little about Paraná, located in the sul (south) of our country and whose capital is the cidade (city) of Curitiba. Vamos aprender um pouco sobre este estado?

With an extension of around 200 thousand square kilometers, Paraná is slightly smaller than Romania, and borders not only the Atlantic Ocean but also the states of São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Mato Grosso do Sul, in addition to Argentina and Paraguay, at a junction known as the tríplice fronteira (triple border). And precisely at the convergence of these three countries lies of our greatest belezas naturais (natural beauties), the Iguaçu cataratas (Falls).

Ópera de arame (Photo by Adelano Lázaro / Public domain)

For the amantes da natureza (nature lovers) out there, the Iguaçu National Park is one of the main conservation areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biomes. There you will not only find the breathtaking Iguaçu Falls, but also a wide variety of animal species and typical plants. Besides, the state of Paraná also features the gorgeous Serra do Mar, which is a mountain range bordering the litoral (coast). You can enjoy your stay and take uma viagem (a trip) by train, crossing the mountains from Curitiba to the city of Paranaguá, bathed by the Atlantic Ocean. We can assure you a vista (the sights) are stunning!

How about a train ride along Serra do Mar? (José Lucas Caetano de Oliveira / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0))

But if you are more into enjoying typical comidas (dishes) during your trip, Paraná is also a great place to be. The state was the stronghold of European immigration in the past século (century), so in addition to several typical pratos (dishes) of Brazilian cuisine, it is also very easy to come across great restaurants with Italian, Polish and German dishes, for example.

With nearly 2 million inhabitants, Curitiba is terra (land) of the poet Paulo Leminski and it keeps many secrets and beauties. The Botanical Gardens, the Ópera de Arame, the Oscar Niemeyer museum and the Sesc Paço da Liberdade Cultural Center are architectural destaques (highlights) of the city. But remember, if you visit the city in inverno (winter), don’t forget to bring a nice sweater, as Curitiba is the mais fria (coldest) capital in Brazil!

Have you ever visited any city in Paraná? Be sure to share your thoughts. Até a próxima! See you next time!

Feel like learning more about the Iguaçu cataratas (falls)? Check out our previous post right here!:

Iguaçu Falls