Paraná
A destination for many Italian, German, Polish and Ukrainian immigrants, Paraná state has strong European influences and is notable for its modern infrastructure.
The capital, Curitiba, is an urban and environmental reference. The city offers a rich tour of its history, culture and gastronomy, as well as modern public transportation system and excellent service infrastructure.
The state is deeply rooted in Brazilian sports: athletes who come from cities, towns and villages of Paraná include names like opposite hitter Mari, gold medallist with the Brazilian National Volleyball Team at Beijing 2008, and middle-blocker Giba, gold medallist at Athens 2004 and voted as the best athlete in the world in 2006. On the tracks, the most notable athlete is Jadel Gregório, gold medallist in the triple jump event at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro; in the same year, this athlete was Vice-World Champion in this modality, in Osaka, Japan.
Paraná was also the stage for the 2012 Pan American Canoe Slalom Championship in Foz do Iguaçu. The city, located on the border with Argentina and Paraguay, is the cradle of the famous Iguaçu Falls, a Natural Heritage of Humanity.
Another alternative for those who visit the state are its ecological sanctuaries, which offer several options for ecotourism and hiking: the paradisiacal island Ilha do Mel, the Vila Velha State Park — with its massive rock sculptures — and the Guartelá Canyon, the sixth largest in the world. In addition to environmental preservation, Paraná is a benchmark in the preservation of historic heritage, with emphasis on the cities of Morretes and Antonina, located at the foot of the Serra do Mar.
