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Curitiba is the state capital of Parana, Brazil. Its population is about 2 million inhabitants, and it is one of the largest cities in Brazil. It has an international airport with direct flights to many cities in South America and Europe. It is 450km from São Paulo and 900km from Rio de Janeiro with direct flights every hour to them. Curitiba is famous for its urban parks, public transportation facilities and besides its cultural attractions it has a very lively and diversified nightlife. Curitiba is one of the 12 venues chosen by FIFA to host the matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Curitiba is located in the Southern part of Brazil: 25°25’48” Latitude South and 49°16’15” Longitude West. Its total area measures 432km2 (166.8sqmi). The North-South extension measures 35km (21.74mi) and the East-West extension measures 20km (12.42mi).
Curitiba is the capital city of the state of Paraná, one of the three states that comprise the Southern part of Brazil. It is strategically located at a favorable environment for major businesses. Curitiba has prominent urban policy, mobility, connectivity, infrastructure and logistics as well as availability of energy. Amongst everything that is offered by the city there are internet backbones, satellite coverage, radio base stations (RBS), ADSL broadband internet connection and Wi-Fi (wireless internet connection). Curitiba has highways and airports and it is near the two ports. The qualified manpower that graduates from the 56 institutions of higher education from Curitiba also makes the city an attractive destination for new investments.
The education in Curitiba also stands out. The city has the highest literacy rate (96.86%) and the best basic education quality amongst all Brazilian capital cities. It is also home of the first Brazilian university, the Federal University of Paraná, which was founded in 1912.
Curitiba has received international awards and is a city regarded as a reference. It is considered the 2nd Pole on Technological Innovation in Brazil, according to research from the Applied Economic Research Institute. It received the titles of 2nd Best Brazilian City for Business and 5th Latin American City for Business, according to América Economia magazine/ 2005 and 2006. It was also considered the Best Destination for Business, according to Veja magazine/ 2007 and it ranked 3rd amongst cities that were considered Champions in Infrastructure by Exame magazine/2006. Curitiba is the 2nd Best City to work at from Southern Brazil, according to Você S.A. magazine/2005 and has the Best Quality of Life in Brazil, according to Firjan Index of Municipal Development/2005.
Curitiba is the best ranked Brazilian city in the ranking of cities, developed by Reader’s Digest/2007 and it holds the 54th position amongst the 72 best cities in the world. It is considered the only Latin American city amongst the ten most sustainable cities in the world, by the Institute Ethimosphere/2009. Forbes magazine/2009 regarded Curitiba as the 3rd smartest city in the world, which shows a city that is concerned with being ecologically sustainable, with quality of life and with having good infrastructure and economic dynamism.
Curitiba was awarded, unanimously, the Globe Award Sustainable City/2010, organized by the Globe Forum, from Sweden, that every year chooses the most sustainable city in the world.
Curitiba has a humid subtropical climate, with a rainfall index of 1,434mm/year. Its average altitude measures 935m (3,067ft) above sea level, which gives the city its own features, such as a colder winter compared to other capital cities in Brazil. According to Paraná Meteorological System (SIMEPAR) the annual average temperature is 16.6°C (61.88°F), from which 7°C (44.6°F) is the average temperature of the coldest month (July) and 26.3°C (79.34°F) of the warmest month (February).
In spring time (from 23 September to 21 December), the average temperature in Curitiba ranges from 12°C and 22°C.
The city has many theater rooms with unquestionable technical-acoustics quality. Positivo Theater, with 2,400 seats, is the biggest theatre in the state of Paraná (and the second biggest theatre in Brazil). Guaíra Theater has three concert halls and the biggest one has 2,173 seats. There is also Paiol Theater (former warehouse used to stock army ammunition in Curitiba, built in 1906 and then later turned into a charming arena theatre with capacity for 225 people). The Wire Opera House, which is made of tubular iron and has a roof made of transparent polycarbonate, holds a 400 m2 stage and has a capacity for 1,640 spectators. There are many other theatre rooms around the city.
Many and varied artistic styles can be appreciated in Curitiba any time of the year. There is a lot of cultural spaces and art galleries around the city, such as the City Memorial (a space dedicated to memory, arts and culture), João Turin House (art exhibitions), Andrade Muricy House (visual arts display and exhibitions of historical relevance), the Solar do Barão, where art courses are offered and rehearsals from Camerata Antiqua (musical group), Orquestra Harmonicas (Harmonic Orchestra) and Curitiba Choir are held. There is also the Solar do Rosário (a cultural complex that gathers an Art Gallery, Bookstore, Framing Store, Antique Store, Restaurant, Tea House and Sculpture Garden) and the Santa Maria Chapel, a space intended to broadcast art music that has a concert room, rehearsal and production rooms, collection of music scores, as well as important musical instruments such as the Steinway piano.
According to Viagem e Turismo magazine/2006, Curitiba ranks 4th in the ranking of best Brazilian Cities for Travel and Tourism. In 2007 it was considered the Best New Destination for Business in the country by Veja magazine. In 2008, it was chosen as the Best Cultural Destination and the Best Cost-Benefit for Tourism in Southern Brazil by Veja magazine and Guia O Melhor do Brasil (The Best of Brazil Guidebook). The number of tourists who visit Curitiba has been continuously growing since 2000, when the city received one million people, until 2008, when the total number of tourists reached three million people, which represented a variation of 187% in eight years.
Curitiba has:
For more information about the city, please see http://www.curitiba.pr.gov.br/idioma/ingles and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curitiba