Things To Do in Maringá, Brazil

Travel in the Brazilian State of Paraná

Aug 3, 2008 Lori Rice

This town provides a great stopping point when touring popular cities of Brazil. Maringá offers a beautiful cathedral, green space and a taste of true Brazilian culture.

With a population of only 300,000 Maringá might be considered a small city by Brazilian standards, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in culture. There are many attractions to see and events to attend that will give you a sense of what Brazil is truly like.

Maringá is a convenient stop for those traveling by bus or car from the frequently visited city of Foz do Iguaçu to Curitiba or Sao Paulo. This third largest city in the state of Paraná is known for having one of the largest concentrations of green space. There is an estimated 26 square meters (280 square feet) of green space per person living there. The vibrant green color and flowering plants and trees will be the first thing visitors notice. The trees also provide much needed shade during a tour of the city’s sites.

Catedral de Maringá

Located on Avenida Tiradentes, the Catedral Basilica Menor Nossa Senhor da Glória, towers 124 meters (407 feet) above the city. The unique cone-shaped design draws tourist from all over Brazil.

The cathedral is the tenth largest monument in the world. In 1958, its corner stone of marble was laid which came from excavations of St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican. The lower triangle shaped windows are decorated with beautiful stained-glass.

The walls on the inside of the cathedral display sketches of angelic scenes. When filled to capacity, it holds a total 3,500 people on the main floor and the balcony. Visitors can even climb the steps inside to the very top for some incredible views of the city.

Parque do Inga

Parque do Inga covers over 1,100 acres in the center of the city. Open in 1971, it was declared an area of permanent preservation in 1991. Entry is free of charge and inside visitors can see several species of animals native to Brazil and a Japanese Garden. In addition, guests might find themselves face to face with a Sagüi. This small breed of monkey can be found running free all over the park.

A two mile walking trail encircles the outside of the park. This is a popular location for local walkers and runners. The trail is packed with people in the cooler morning and evening hours. Take a walk around the park and find local vendors for a refreshing drink. There is always a vendor there to sell água de coco (coconut water) which can be enjoyed straight out of the fresh coconut. For something even more exotic, try caldo de cana. This drink is made from the juice of sugarcane and is incredibly sweet.

Futebol Stadium and Feira Grounds

Most people associate Brazil with futebol, or soccer, and even a small city like Maringá has its own stadium and team. Estádio Willie Davids seats 25,000 people and it is the home to Galo Maringá.

On a Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, in the parking lot of the soccer stadium and across the street, you will find the local feira. This even starts at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday night and 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. "Feira" translates to "fair" in English, but this event is more like a farmer's market. The vast amount of produce available is overwhelming and the prices are unbelievably inexpensive.

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