Discover Apucarana: Nature, Culture and Festivals

Apucarana brings together religious and cultural landmarks, green spaces and a vibrant festival culture. The city’s distinctive attractions include a lake, a garden with cherry trees and a giant concrete cap. Pilgrimage routes and local food options also shape the range of experiences on offer. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Apucarana, your interests can help determine which aspects of the city to focus on during your stay.

City history and religious sites

Praça Mauá is part of Apucarana’s historic railway station complex. The Museu Municipal de Apucarana offers another perspective on the city’s history: its photographs, documents, newspapers, objects, tools and street signs tell the story of the municipality. The Exposição Iconográfica de Nossa Senhora e São José features 6,000 images and serves religious and cultural purposes.

Apucarana’s religious heritage is also reflected in its architecture. The Catedral Basílica Menor Nossa Senhora de Lourdes is designed in the Baroque style. Atop its main tower is an image of a saint; sculptures of Saints Peter and Paul stand on the front façade. The Santuário São José is the first sanctuary in Brazil dedicated to Saint Joseph. Those interested in religious buildings and traditions will find concrete points of interest here, as well as along the Caminho do Desafio das Catedrais pilgrimage route: this 305-kilometre route links the cathedrals of Londrina, Apucarana and Maringá and passes through the municipality of Apucarana. The route’s organisation and conditions may change; check the latest information if you plan to include it in your itinerary.

One unusual attraction is the Monumento ao Boné: the giant concrete cap celebrates Apucarana’s cap-making industry and is considered a tourist destination in the city. The Memorial Casa de Portugal commemorates Apucarana’s Portuguese community. The Concha Acústica in Praça 28 de Janeiro was designed for cultural events and continues to host smaller educational and alternative cultural events.

Green spaces, water and cherry blossoms

The Bosque Municipal preserves a 28,000-square-metre remnant of forest within the city. The scale of Parque Jaboti is clear from its dimensions: the park covers 230,800 square metres, including a 150,000-square-metre lake fed by three springs. A three-kilometre illuminated path is intended for walking, running, cycling and roller skating. The lake and path give the park different attractions—whether you’re looking for quiet nature watching or physical activity.

The Jardim Japonês adds a seasonal highlight to the cityscape. Dozens of cherry trees bloom in Apucarana every year in late autumn; the garden also features a replica of the Sakura-Haghi, or cherry blossom, bridge. If you’d like to plan your trip around a particular natural spectacle, the blossom season offers a specific time to aim for.

In the rural part of the municipality, Parque da Redenção is located in the community of Barreiro. Covering about 60,000 square metres, it features giant statues of biblical figures depicting episodes from the life of Jesus. Parque Ecológico da Raposa is recognised as a permanently protected environmental area within the municipality of Apucarana and also serves as a recreational area. Its features include two dammed lakes, an artificial cascade, a natural pool and a children’s playground.

Parque Biguaçu also offers specific attractions for a range of interests: the park includes Parque São Francisco de Assis, with a grotto, fountains and a children’s playground. A smooth concrete path is provided for walking. Parque Ecológico Santo Expedito brings religious and natural elements together: it includes an ecumenical chapel, a grotto with an image of Saint Expedito, a lookout point with an image of Jesus Christ, natural pools and a spring. These differences can help you plan your day around nature, physical activity or religious sites.

Festivals and cuisine as reasons to visit

The annual Festa da Cerejeira combines Japanese dishes such as sushi and yakisoba with music and dance from Japan. It is held at the Associação Cultural e Esportiva de Apucarana; dates may change, so it’s best to check before travelling. Another opportunity to sample a range of cuisines is the Feira da Lua. It takes place every Thursday from 6 p.m. and offers food from several national cuisines, with 23 participants: these include Japanese sukiyaki, Ukrainian perohê, Italian macaroni and Brazilian specialities, particularly from the cuisine of Minas Gerais. Check the weekly schedule before your visit.

The combination of green spaces, religious attractions, city history and festivals offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay. When looking for a holiday apartment in Apucarana, you can start by considering which themes you’d like your trip to revolve around: nature and physical activity, cultural discoveries or local traditions. This way, you can match your destination to the experiences you’re genuinely interested in.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ribeirão Do Pinhal, Ilha Do Mel, Pato Branco, Campo Largo, Guaraqueçaba, Dourado, Cianorte, União Da Vitória.

For the broader travel overview: Paraná.