Paranagua

In addition to being the location of one of Brazil's most important ports, Paranaguá is a historical and ecological point of reference. Preserved there are vestiges of Portuguese colonization in the mid 17th century, and the mansions, religious processions and commemorations of church dedications still retain the traces of colonial times. As far as nature is concerned, Paranaguá is certainly favoured, with a bay which covers an area of 300 km2 and dotted with islands, beaches, shores, channels and inlets. Forming a lake region that extends from Iguape, in the State of São Paulo and passes through the cities of Cananéia (São Paulo) and Antonina (Paraná), Paranaguá Bay is an important area for mangrove conservation. Paranaguá Bay stretches over 300 km2 and also includes the Island of Mel and several beach resorts, including Pontal do Sul, Praia de Leste, Ipanema, Shangri-la, Olho d'água, Santa Terezinha, Portofino and Grajaú. 
          
The route leading to the city and the rest of the Paraná coastline is a luxuriant one. Whether travelling by car or train, the journey is exceptionally pleasant. Skirting the precipices of the Serra do Mar, the Imperial Railway has linked Curitiba with Paranaguá since 1880, its 110 km passing under and over 13 tunnels and 41 bridges and viaducts. The journey takes three hours and the train stops at old stations, hamlets and waterfalls so that the passengers can appreciate the scenery. It also stops in Morretes, a historical city dating back to 1721 and which, in addition to remarkable architecture, has as its main attraction the River Nhundiaquara, where the tide races are used as lanes for canoeing or "boiacross", a type of toboggan made with lorry

The Curitiba of Many People
Curitiba is a synthesis of many cultures, brought by immigrants from all over the world, who helped to build every bit of the city from the second half of last century. Welcome by this land which, at the time, had plenty of space to offer, they retributed with their hard work, knowledge, culture and traditions.
         
This is why Curitiba is formed by bits of many countries. A portion of Italy, for instance, can be seen in Santa Felicidade, in the architecture - that is where the Culpi house is, the first one in the district, refurbished as a Cultural Centre - as well as in the style of life, colourful and happy. 
          
Thousands arrive mainly during weekends to taste the good food, good wine, pasta and other atractions of the many restaurants and shops along Via Veneto.
         
There is also a lot from Poland, whose immigrants and their descendants are living all over the city, with some preference for the districts of Pilarzinho, Santa Cândida and Orleans. Their characteristics persist in the surnames of many curitibanos with blond hair and blue eyes. In the Pope John Paul II woods the polish memoirs are registered in the Virgin Mary of Jasna Gora Chapel as well as in the typical wooden houses turned into small museums of early immigrants utensils and domestic furniture.
         
The descendants of those immigrants and all curitibanos can still taste the pirogue and cooked pastries filled with potatoes and cottage cheese.
         
Japanese imigrants, curitibanos above anything else.
         
The ukranian descendants, with their blue eyes and long surname, are one of feature of the city. There is still a lot in Curitiba with a touch of German, Arab,  Japanese, Chinese, Swiss, Ucranian accents. The more evident signs of those cultures are found in the architecture, handcrafts and cooking. But in every corner of the city there are the sons, grandsons and descendants of the pioneers, perfectly integrated to a brazilian environment. Proud of their origins, but curitibanos above everything else.

Alphaville Graciosa Clube
Architect Dan Blankenship designed this modern golf course that opened in 2001 using the undulations, different levels and lakes to build this highly technical course to meet the needs of the more demanding golfers.

Built to the highest standards, the course has an automatic irrigation system, which guarantees the quality of the course all year round.

The club is located in an immense natural reserve within the Alphaville Condominium, where the visitor can play golf upon payment of a green fee. It is advisable to book in advance because of the many events that are held at the club.

It is located about 20 km away from downton Curitiba and 15 km from Afonso Pena airport, in the city of Pinhais.

Alphaville Graciosa Clube offers driving range, putting green, pitching green, snack bar, restaurant, hotel accommodation, pro-shop and equipments for hire. It has 18 holes, par 72 and 6626 yards. It is open from 7h00 till 18h00 mondays through sundays.
The average temperature is 17oC and the golf course is 906m over the sea level.

Location:
Av. Tomaz Edison de Andrade Vieira, 825 - Estrada da Graciosa
Pinhais
Phone: (41) 3551-1389

Golf - Driving Ranges
Brazil already has many golf academies mainly in the big cities (driving ranges with or without putting and pitching greens) enabling golfers visiting the cities on business or as tourists to keep their game up to date.

In Curitiba:
CCE - Centro de Capacitação Esportiva
Address: Rua Pastor Manoel Virginio de Souza, 1020, distric of Capão da Embuia
Phone/fax: 941) 3014-0200

Aguativa Golf Resort
A space totally integrated with Nature, exploring the topographical peculiarities of the place where it is to the most: this is how the golf course of the Aguativa Golf Resort is, located close to the city of Londrina, in the state of Paraná. With a water drive range of up to 400 yards, the course has rich vegetation, and 14 ponds. For those who appreciate challenging strikes, it is worth paying a visit to hole number three, whose obstacle is the main lake, which separates the tee from the green.

The Aguativa Golf Resort is located at Km 101 (62.76 mi) of the Mello Peixoto road, in the town of Cornélio Procópio, in the state of Paraná. Access is also possible by air, from the town of Londrina, located at 32.93 mi (53 Km) from the resort. For those coming from Curitiba (383 km) - the state Capital - by car, they have to go towards Ponta Grossa, Piraí do Sul, Ventania, and Nova Fátima, until getting to Cornélio Procópio.

Aguativa Golf Resort offers floating driving range, putting green, snack bar, restaurant, hotel accommodation, pro-shop and equipments for hire. It has 9 holes, par 36 and 358,797.01 square yards. It is open daily from 7h00 till 18h00 (during saving time, the course is open until 20h00).
The average temperature is 25oC and the golf course is 676m over the sea level.

Location:
Rodovia Mello Peixoto, km 101
Cornélio Procópio
Phone: (43) 3520-7000