World Cup host cities prove popular with fans

World Today

World Cup host cities prove popular with fans

Looking ahead, Curitiba won’t host a match until Monday, but that city has already earned positive reviews from fans. Paulo Cabral has the next stop on our tour of Brazil’s lesser-known host cities.
The Iguacu Falls mark the border of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. The rainforest national park where it sits is the main attraction of the Brazilian state of Parana. More than 300,000 tourists come here every year.However, few tourists use their time to visit the state’s capital 600 kilometers away, which is Curitiba, one of the host cities of the 2014 World Cup. Local residents hope the tournament will help change this.

Curitiba is not such a well- known destination, like Rio de Janeiro, but it’s a very pleasant, mid- sized city where visitors can get a feel a of a more European side of Brazil. Curitiba has many parks like the Barigui, a favorite among locals, always proud of their city`s high quality of life.

Jaime Lerner is an architect and urban planner who in the early 1970’s, as mayor, drew the master plan that Curitiba still largely follows. The efficient Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, built in the 1970’s was a pioneer in the world. Also, those with more time can use the local double decker that goes to the main landmarks of the city, like the main market: a good spot to check on local flavors and smells.

Curitiba also has its party scene like in this day festival just starting in the grounds of this unused quarry turned park. Curitiba is not a big magnet for foreign tourists yet but those who end up here for the tournament will have plenty of options to make it a great experience.

World Cup host cities prove popular with fans

Looking ahead, Curitiba won't host a match until Monday, but that city has already earned positive reviews from fans. Paulo Cabral has the next stop on our tour of Brazil's lesser-known host cities.

All three of Friday’s matches were held in Brazil’s smaller cities. When it comes to population and the size of their economies, they pale in comparison to the likes of Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro. Even so, they still have plenty to offer.

A quick look at Friday's host cities

All three of Friday's matches were held in Brazil's smaller cities. When it comes to population and the size of their economies, they pale in comparison to the likes of Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro. Even so, they still have plenty to offer.