José Maria Santos Theater

Built in 1890, it housed up to 1956 the knitting factoring of Hoffmann family. Renovated in 1970 and undermined by a fire in 1980, the building reopened in 1981 as a Samba Factory and in 1982 as theater. It was named Classe theater and later Treze de Maio theater. Protected by its historical interest for the municipality in 1988 and seized in 1989, it has been reformed and reopened with the current name.

Source: Fundação Cultural de Curitiba

Jose Maria Santos was born in Guarapuava on 12 December 1933, but he preferred to say to everyone that he Lapeano since he moved to Lapa with his family very young.

Already in Curitiba in 1958, he founded the Dramatic Independent Cia. In 1971, after a presentation of "Lá", at CEFET, he offers himself to the director to create a theater group with students of that institution. In this school, he remains until his death on January 3, 1990.

He was the first and only actor of Paraná to receive a national award of cinema without ever having left the Paraná. He received the "Kikito de Ouro" for best supporting actor at Gramado Festival for his role in the movie "Aleluia Gretchen" of Silvio Back.

Night view of the Boca Maldita Clock

The photo shows the night vew of the place where Luiz Xavier Avenue meets Osório Square.

This place has always been an important open air stage for major events in Curitiba, both artistic and political, as the historical protest of 50 thousand people on 12 January 1984, launching the “Diretas Já”, a popular movement demanding direct democratic elections, culminating in 1985 with the end of 21 years of military dictatorship in Brazil.

The old and the new

In a corner (in this case the crossing of the streets Visconde de Nacar and Carlos de Carvalho at Curitiba downtown), at a glance and a quick click, an image contrasting two different realities. A modern bus full of hurried people probably rushed to their commitments and at the same time without any hurry, an elderly man walking quietly in the crosswalk, with his purchase, following his path.

South view of Curitiba from the observatory

Finishing the views of the districts of Curitiba from the observatory, the south view shows the following districts: Agua Verde, Batel, Bigorrilho and Vila Izabel.

The algae that used to give a greenish tinge to fresh water, took the ancient inhabitants of the region to name the river that cut their farms the name "Água Verde“ (Green Water).The first name of the region, "Colonia Dantas”, was due to the fact that there resides in the last century, many Italian families.

There are two versions for the origin of the name of the neighborhood Batel: the first is linked to the fact that a family known for Batel resides on that region. The other version dates back to a traditional religious festival, where once, a small boat (Batel) sunk.

The term that most closely matches the name of this district is Bigorrilha due to the owner of a brothel. The everyday language of the residents have "masculinized" the term, arising the Bigorrilho name. Some argues that the district was named Bigorrilho due to a Ukrainian called Bigorela.

Vila Izabel district was previously formed by an extensive forest that was frequented by hunters and fishermen. Over time, the inhabitants transformed the forest in a large crop of corn, beans, rice and other cereals. The business conducted by travelers has caused a significant development of this neighborhood.

The Cable Car of XV de Novembro Street

The cable car ("Bondinho"), one of the landmarks of XV de Novembro Street or the Flower Street, the heart of Curitiba, was installed in October 1973. Since then, it has hosted an area of recreational activities and art for children from three to ten years old, under the responsibility of the Cultural Foundation of Curitiba.

In 2005, after a year and a half of no activities, the trolley went through some reforms in commemoration of the then 312 years of Curitiba.

Unfortunatly since November 2008, cultural activities and recreation in the cable car were discontinued due to lack of space, according to a spokesperson of the Cultural Foundation. The classes of painting on paper were transferred to the Public Promenade.

Southwest view of Curitiba from the observatory

At this direction, the observatory gives us the view of the following districts: Campina do Siqueira, Campo Comprido, Mossungue and Seminario.

The name of the district Campina do Siqueira is the result of combining two distinct historical facts, that the time undertook to relate. Campina (meadow), depicts the geographical aspect of the region from which stretched a beautiful plain covered by vegetation. The second part of the name comes from Antonio Sebastião Siqueira, a Portuguese immigrant who arrived here in the early nineteenth century.

The origins of the Campo Comprido brings us back to the time of the Portuguese empire allotments. The lands of the current quarter would be included in the former allotment of Baltazar Carrasco dos Reis, 29 June 1661. The occupation of the region is subject to the creation of the neighboring colonies of Orleans, Santo Inácio, Dom Augusto, Rivière and Dom Pedro, in 1876.

The Mossunguê as well as their neighborhoods - Campina do Siqueira, Orleans, Campo Comprido, Santo Inácio and Bigorrilho - came along the old path of Mato Grosso (current BR-277). The intense mineral exploration along this road contributed to the establishment of numerous warehouses, which served as warehouses for travelers, drovers and the first residents of the region, the first families who came from Italy.

The name Seminário (seminar) has its origin in the fact of there being located the old Boarding School Seminar, whose cornerstone was laid in 1877 with the presence of Bishop José de Camargo Barros, now called College Paranaense.

Happy 2010

Happy new year everybody. May your dreams come true in 2010!!