Curitiba Travel Information
Bosque do Papa João Paulo II
A blessed place where nature and tradition are part of scenic beauty and in harmony, the Bosque Joao Paulo II, inaugurated in December 1980 was immortalized by the Popes visit to Curitiba in June 1980. In the park, there was a special house built for him in the traditional Polish style at the Estadio Couto Pereira. The house was then presented to the city as a beautiful tribute to the Polish community in Curitiba. The park has a great deal of Polish history, and includes the Polish Immigration Memorial.
Inside the park is a trail that winds through the forest and along the trail are seven typical Polish houses in the form of a village. These houses were built at the beginning of the Polish colonization in Curitiba, around 1878. The homes were moved to the park and reassembled in the woods to create a memorial to the Polish immigrants. The houses, made of embedded pine logs, represent the history and the culture of the immigrants. The first house is actually the one dedicated to the Pope and was not an original immigrant house. This house had a chapel installed in honor of the Black Virgin of Czestchowa, patron saint of Poland. In the other houses, you can see the historic furniture and tools from the first immigration period, circa 1871. Many of the typical tools, including the barrels used for sour cabbage production, the grain shakers and stone grinders are present within the homes on display. Further along the trail there is a sculpture of Pope John Paul II and a monument to Nicolaus Copernicus.
The park also has an area where there are many crafts on sale, such as the famous pysanky, or hand-painted eggs in enclosures that are used to greet Easter. The Polish community has many festivals throughout the year, and during these festivals plenty of traditional music and folklore are presented to the crowds. There are celebrations for the Swiconka, or the Blessing of Food at Easter time in July, and another celebration to honor the Pope's visit in August, the party of the patron saint of Czestochowa, the pontificate of John Paul II in October, and St. Nicholas Day that starts the Christmas celebration. On these occasions it's possible to experience the delicious foods the Polish cook, including pirogues (pastry stuffed with cheese) and the delicious sweets and cakes of the Polish cuisine.
The project's landscape architect Burle Marx, who personally oversaw the cleanup of the Bosque, made it a priority to preserve the native forest, by planting new seedlings of pine (Araucaria angustifolia). The seedling are now all fully matured throughout the 48,000 square meters of the park.
The "Pope's Wood," as it is known in Curitiba, offers a journey into the heart and history of the Polish people, gratitude and a tribute to the city's Polish immigrants.
The Oscar Niemeyer Museum is right beside the park, and offers one of the largest exhibition complexes in Brazil.
Hours:
Daily from 6am to 8pm;
Polish Memorial is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9am to 6:30pm
More Photos of Bosque do Papa João Paulo II
Activities near to Bosque do Papa João Paulo II
| Memorial da Imigração Polonesa (museum) -
Located in the Bosque do Papa João Paulo II, a green area of 46,000 square meters, in the city center, the Polish Memorial is an outdoor museum. There are seven log houses built with the wood of local pine trees, typical of the materials that Polish immigrants used. The houses contain many items that the Polish used or built for their daily lives. Including furniture, and household items such as the sour cabbage barrel, where ... Address: Bosque do Papa, Curitiba, Parana, Brasil Distance: 0.00km from the Bosque do Papa João Paulo II | |
| Zapata Mexican Bar (nightlife) - * Voted "Best Kitchen" of Curitiba city by the renowned Veja Magazine Curitiba
Tribute to the leader of the 1910 Mexican Revolution, Emiliano Zapata, the name of the bar gives a good idea of what can be found in its two units. Typical elements such as sombreros, cacti and images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, are everywhere. The menu lists about 100 dishes, also inspired by the land of mariachis. Examples include them concorri... Address: Rua Jose Saboia Cortes, 383, Curitiba, Parana, Brasil Distance: 0.36km from the Bosque do Papa João Paulo II | |
| Oscar Niemeyer Museum (museum) - The Oscar Niemeyer Museum is one of the largest exhibition complexes in Brazil, with approximately 16,000 square meters in the display of artwork. The museum also includes an auditorium capable of seating 400, a café and several areas for resting tired feet. A wonderful tourist attraction that visitors from around the country come to see. Opened in November 2002 under the name of the "New Museum", it was de... Address: Rua Marechal Hermes, 999, Curitiba, Parana, Brasil Distance: 0.39km from the Bosque do Papa João Paulo II |  |
Restaurants near to Bosque do Papa João Paulo II
| Menina dos Olhos - Centro Cívico is a Brazilian restaurant that is roughly 0.00km from Bosque do Papa João Paulo II and can be found at Rua Manuel Eufrásio, 1550 The big attraction is home to exotic caipirinha that comes with a popsicle dipped fruit. The most requested is the passion fruit. In a rustic and warm, the Girl Eye serves snacks prepared in the wood stove as the filet mignon with mushrooms on the plate and carne-de-oz. The sandwiches are also hit with customers since 2004, when the house |
| Muqifo is a Appetizers restaurant that is roughly 0.00km from Bosque do Papa João Paulo II and can be found at Rua Mateus Leme, 1736 At lunchtime the menu is set with dishes of the day. Already night snacks are the stars and accompanying beers and caipirinhas to pack the night. Among the highlights is a Muqifo miniespetinho chicken with bacon, muq-called chicken-bacon. |
| Sorella - Marechal Hermes is a Vegetarian restaurant that is roughly 0.00km from Bosque do Papa João Paulo II and can be found at Rua Marechal Hermes, 728 The restaurant chain currently has three offices in Curitiba and was inaugurated in 1989 to serve the public seeking light and healthy meals with vegetarian recipes. The Sorella serves at a buffet with a choice of salads, whole grains and legumes. |
| Basset is a Appetizers restaurant that is roughly 0.00km from Bosque do Papa João Paulo II and can be found at Rua Marechal Hermes, 1024 Opened in 1996, the Basset serves various flavors of fruit caipirinhas to accompany snacks and sandwiches as prepared with chicken breast, onion, garlic, provolone cheese and parsley on French bread. Among the appetizers, are successful steak sour, strips of beef seasoned with lemon and lots of breaded tilapia. |
Hotels near to Bosque do Papa João Paulo II
Bristol Flexy Centro Civico Hotel With its central location, Bristol Flexy Centro Civico Hotel is within easy reach of most tourist attractions and business addresses in Curitiba. The Bristol Flexy Centro Civico Hotel boasts a convenient location with modern amenities in every guestroom and superb service. These top-class facilities are complemented to excellent services to meet the needs of visitors to Curitiba. To make a reserv... |
 San Juan Royal Curitiba Hotel The San Juan Royal Curitiba Hotel is located in Curitiba making it one of the best hotels to stay at while in town. All hotel's guestrooms have all the conveniences expected in a hotel in its class to suit guests' utmost comforts. Room amenities include non smoking rooms, air conditioning, hair dryer, internet access, in room safe, television, shower. To suit guests' convenience, this Curitiba acc... |
 Hotel Brasilia CuritibaHotel Brasilia Curitiba is a popular choice amongst travelers in Curitiba, whether exploring or just passing through. Offering a variety of facilities and services, the hotel provides all you need for a good night's sleep. Laundry service/dry cleaning, 24hr room service, restaurant, elevator, business center are on the list of things guests can enjoy. Each guestroom is elegantly furnished and equi... |
 Crowne Plaza HotelDiscover all that Curitiba has to offer with Crowne Plaza Hotel as a base. All of the 88 rooms of this 14-story property are all equipped with modern in-room amenities. Each of the hotel's guestrooms offers air conditioning, daily newspaper, inhouse movies, hair dryer, in room safe. The basic amenities provided at this Curitiba accommodation comprise room service 24hr, bar/pub, laundry service/dry... |