Curitiba is an important cultural, political and economic center in Latin America and its population is largely descended from German, Ukrainian, Russian, Italian and Polish immigrants. The city is located in the South of Brazil, in the State of Paraná. Curitiba brings a European charm that sets it apart from most of Brazil and is full of sights such as the Opera House wire, Oscar Niemeyer Museum, the Botanical Gardens, the Panoramic Tower (right next to Ilapeo) and several parks scattered throughout the city's neighborhoods. The city and the environment are in perfect harmony.

One theory is that the name "Curitiba" comes from the Tupi words kurí tyba, "many pine seeds" due to the large number of pinecones of Parana pines in the region prior to its founding. Another version, also using words from the Tupi language, is that it originates in the combination of kurit (pine tree) and yba (large amount).