Saturday night at Tobias de Macedo Street

The region between the Tiradentes and the Santos Andrade squares always seemed a bit grim, especially at night, with its bars odd, "movies" suspects and cheap hotels. The Tobias de Macedo Street links both squares. But the group in the bar, do not seem to be worried about it, instead, they seem to be enjoying the company of each other very much.

Three towers of the Cathedral

The photo shows three towers of the Cathedral Basilica Menor of Curitiba that is located at Tiradentes Square, Curitiba downtown. Church towers always seemed to be a place shrouded in mystery, where you can observe without being observed, where one can study without being harassed, or perhaps, it is just an empty useless space. The weather this day was great, not cloudy and not so cold.

Pausing the report

The small reporting team of the major local TV station was at Tiradentes Square, where a serious bus accident occurred recently, patiently waiting for a bus full of tourists to follow its path so they could start their work.

Details of the Curitiba Cathedral

One Sunday during the 10h00 worship at the Cathedral of Tiradentes square, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible, I took some photos of the interior of the church, which was quite full of believers. The interior of this church is one of the most beautiful in Curitiba.

Tiradentes Square - The Past on Display

Revitalized in 2008, the Praça Tiradentes recovers its importance and its significance for the city of Curitiba. The work featured the accompaniment of archaeologists from UFPR (Federal University of Parana), that during the excavations, found objects related to the occupation of the first residents. More significant of the findings, are the remains of pavements corresponding to the first urbanization of the area, dating from the second half of the nineteenth century. Although fragmentary, the pavements have allowed the understanding of urban layout deployed. These remains are now on display in the square, under the protection of a glass display (as shown in photo above).

The Comb War

The Comb War (as it is known) was a protest that began on December 8th, 1959 in Curitiba. There was then a campaign to increase tax collection called "Your Coupon worth a Million”. The promotion was to gather proof of purchase tax and replace it with a coupon that would give the right to participate in a lottery to a million of Cruzeiros. A retired lieutenant of the Military Police of Paraná bought a comb in a store at Tiradentes Square and demanded the cupom to the Lebanese businessman Ahmed Najar, which was denied. There was a discussion between them, a melee and the lieutenant had his leg fractured. One hundred and twenty stores of Arabs, Jews, Italians and also Brazilians, but all known as "Turks", were vandalized in the region. The army took over control of the turmoil, emptying the surrounding area. The interference of the army led to the closure of predatory riot after three days.

Tiradentes Square, The Cathedral and the Curitibanos

Since the Praça Tiradentes was reformulated, partially recovering its history, renewing its walks and benches, I have the impression that people have become more frequent to this plaza, which is the first square in Curitiba. The lighting has been rethought to ensure safety for those who frequent the square at night.

The photo shows people sitting on benches and quietly in the background, dominating the landscape, our cathedral.

Ground Zero of Curitiba

At Tiradentes Square the Ground Zero of Curitiba can be found. From this point are taken all the distances from Curitiba.

Near Ground Zero, we can find the reference level of Curitiba and the monolith that records the location of the Pelourinho, raised by Gabriel de Lara, with the Cross of Malta, which meant at that time, the legally constitution of the Portuguese government, justice and characterization of the village of Curitiba.

Tiradentes Square as time goes by

The Tiradentes square is the oldest one in town. It was originally known as Largo da Matriz, which hosts the small chapel around which developed the Village that in the future would be called Curitiba.

At the same site of the old chapel is now the Metropolitan Cathedral of Curitiba. In 1880, when the Emperor's visited Curitiba, the Square changed its name to Largo Dom Pedro II and it again changed its name to Tiradentes Square in 1889 (right after the Republic Proclamation).

The above photos, 55 years apart from each other, show the same angle of Tiradentes Square.

Notice in the foreground of the 1954 photo, the elegantly dressed young man reading a newspaper is my dad, at the time he came to Curitiba in order to attend a course of practice in pharmacy.

Curitiba and The El Niño

A little joke about the weather in Curitiba, very appropriate to what we have seen this year: Do you know what comes after two rainny days in Curitiba? Monday!

Its been a long time since we have seen so much rain in Curitiba. Daylight savings time has arrived this weekend, but winter seems to like the city and is still among us! Meteorologists say the El Nino is the cause of rain above the historical average.

The photo shows the Tiradentes Square with the Rosário Church in the background, on a cold rainy morning of October.