Antonina: Experience railway history and the bay

Antonina combines a distinctive railway history with historic religious buildings and the Bay of Antonina. The town offers a range of themes for planning your day: a railway station dating from 1916, churches, a historic spring, local sweets and a small beach. If you are looking for a vacation rental, you can first consider whether culture, the beach, food or outdoor activities will shape your stay. The sights and excursions provide concrete ideas—and let you switch between different interests.

Railway history and historic buildings

The Estação Ferroviária de Antonina was built in 1916 and was the terminus of the Morretes–Antonina railway line. This makes it a clear point of reference for Antonina’s railway history. Another trace of the past is the Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus do Saivá, which includes a religious building constructed between the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Fonte da Carioca is also part of the historic heritage. This rare building from Brazil’s colonial period was listed as heritage of the state of Paraná on April 23, 1969. At the Farmácia Internacional de Antonina, by contrast, the focus is on furniture, equipment and utensils from historic pharmacies. Each place therefore offers a different theme: religious architecture, a colonial-era building and the furnishings of pharmacies from earlier times.

The Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Pilar da Graciosa is around three hundred years old and is associated with the founding of the Antonina parish in 1719. The Nossa Senhora do Pilar festival is celebrated on August 15; the preparatory novenas begin on August 6. If you would like to plan your stay around the religious festival calendar, these dates provide a concrete point of reference.

Prainha, Bananina sweets and the railway line

Prainha is a small beach on the Bay of Antonina, with shallow water and low-growing vegetation. It is in the Itapema neighborhood, four kilometers from the center. If you are planning time at the beach, this distance is a useful reference for organizing your day. At Bananina’s factory shop, you can sample banana candies in a range of flavors. Check the current visitor guidelines before you go.

The Maria-Fumaça railway line connects Antonina and Morretes and runs through the Atlantic Forest, over bridges and through mangroves. Alongside the historic buildings, it offers a route through a variety of landscapes. If you plan to take the train, check the current operating dates before your trip.

Active excursions in the municipality

The rafting trip in the municipality starts in Bairro Alto, in Parque Estadual Roberto Ribas Lage. The descent along the Rio Cachoeira covers about three kilometers through rapids. At the starting point, there are changing rooms, a snack bar, a restaurant, a camping area, a volleyball court and barbecue grills. This excursion offers a different day out from visiting the historic buildings or the beach in Itapema.

Pico Paraná is also within the municipality of Antonina and is a destination for mountaineers. Access is via Campina Grande do Sul. Check route conditions before setting out. This gives you distinct reference points for planning: Bairro Alto for rafting and Campina Grande do Sul for access to Pico Paraná.

Find a vacation rental to suit your travel plans

When looking for a vacation rental in Antonina, it helps to decide what you would like to focus on. Historic buildings and festival culture, Prainha and the railway line offer different ways to shape your stay. The four kilometers between Prainha and the center are a practical factor if you plan to visit the beach; rafting and access to Pico Paraná each have their own reference points in the municipality. Consider which experiences you want to include in your plans and take them into account when choosing your accommodation.

Discover more destinations: Umuarama, Rolândia, Ventania, Fazenda Rio Grande, Imbaú, Campo Mourão, Dracena, Cambará

For the broader travel overview: Paraná.