Curitiba

Description

Curitiba is a city located in southern Brazil and is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. Curitiba is a hub for culture, politics, and economics in Latin America and has been praised for being one of the world’s best models of urban planning. It is a welcoming city known for its impressive infrastructure, beautiful green areas and friendly people among other things. Curitiba is also known for providing its residents a high quality of life and if one of several host cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Although there is a small Muslim population in the city, Muslim visitors will not find it easy to locate Halal-friendly facilities such as mosques and Halal food in Curitiba.

To see Curitiba and its surroundings and to get to know it better, visitors must take a Curitiba-Paranaguá train ride. This is one of the best train rides in Brazil; visitors get to see nothing but beautiful scenery and cultural attractions for a 62 mile distance. The train also goes across the mountains of Serra do Mar offering its passengers picturesque views and an unforgettable experience. This ride is an attraction on its own and should be on every visitor’s itinerary.

A must-visit attraction when in the city is the Botanical Garden of Curitiba. This French inspired garden is popular across all of Brazil and is an attraction that cannot be missed when in Curitiba. The garden is home to an array of beautiful flowers and plants, ponds and paths, a botanic museum that attracts researchers from all over the world, as well as to a green house that was modeled after London’s Crystal Palace; made of iron and glass and is a famous modern landmark in Curitiba. This garden is the ideal place to explore, and also the perfect place for a bit of relaxation. The Botanical Garden of Curitiba is frequented by locals and tourists alike.

Another great way to see the area would be to head over Torre Panorâmica or the Panoramic Tower. This 109 metre high tower offers visitors 360-degree views of Curitiba from its observation deck. There is also a telephone museum on the ground floor that can be visited. A visit to Iguacu Park and Zoo would be ideal for those with kids and for visitors looking to get in a bit of shopping; Curitiba has several shopping malls and smaller boutiques that will not disappoint.

Nearby Airports

The nearest airport to Curitiba is Afonso Pena International Airport, which is located approximately 18 kilometres from the city center, in the adjoining municipality of Sao José dos Pinhais. The airport has domestic as well as international flights and is one of the busiest airports in Brazil.

Halal Restaurants

There is one known Halal restaurants in Curitiba, namely; B'rimos. It is said to be the only Halal meat house & restaurant in the city. The restaurant serves delicious Lebanese food and is Muslim owned.  

Muslim visitors can also dine on vegetarian or seafood dishes from local non-Halal restaurants after ensuring that the dishes do not consist of any non-Halal items. Because Curitiba has a small Muslim population, Muslim tourists may be able to obtain more information on the availability of Halal food in the area, at the local mosque. Muslim visitors must also be aware that most restaurants in Curitiba also serve alcohol.

Mosques

There are a couple of mosques and Islamic Centers in Curitiba, namely the Mosque of Curitiba and the Islamic Center of Curitiba. Both of these serve the small community of Muslims living in the city. Because it is not easy to locate other mosques in the city, Muslim tourists are advised to pray in their hotel room before setting out on any excursion, if possible.

Things to Do and See in Curitiba

• Oscar Niemeyer Museum
• Botanical Garden of Curitiba
• Wire Opera House
• Bosque de Portugal
• Bosque Alemão
• Panoramic Tower
• Iguaçu Falls
• Barigüi Park
• Palácio Avenida
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Iguaçu Park and Zoo
• German Wood