Vila Velha State Park
PONTA GROSSA – PARANÁ
Amazing natural attraction next to Curitiba
The Vila Velha Park is home to ancient rock formations of great scenic value and historical and natural relevance and is considered an important center for tourist and scientific visitation at state, national and international levels. Listed in 1966 as Historical and Artistic Heritage of the State of Paraná, the “Conjunto de Vila Velha” is formed by the Arenitos, Furnas and Lagoa Dourada.
The work aims to develop studies for structuring partnerships in the park, with the elaboration of a masterplan for public use, identification of opportunities related to existing attractions and new activities and uses will be potentialized, proposing a restructuring of the dynamics of visitation with new centers of attractions that compose diverse itineraries.
Located in the Campos Gerais region, in the municipality of Ponta Grossa, the ENPV is 20 km and 90 km from Curitiba. Easily accessible, it is on the margins of Highway BR-376 (stretch Rodovia do Café), at km 515.
The Sandstones are the main tourist attraction – a trail with stretches of different characteristics permeates the old formations. Furnas are huge craters that are home to an infinity of species of fauna and flora, full of trails in its perimeter, as well as in Lagoa Dourada. There is also the Fortaleza Trail, which is more extensive and includes primitive areas.
An analysis of the attractions of the surroundings and the main elements that move tourism in the park region allows us to direct a vision of the future to enhance its attractiveness, bringing together a historical-cultural elements, local gastronomy, and natural attractions in only one place.
In this way, the Masterplan was prepared with a focus on the development of new centers, offering other itineraries of visitation and adding different experiences to the existing attractions.
Each nucleus has a characteristic that differentiates it from the others, both by the type of activities and services offered, as well as by the particularities of the territory. A new mobility service is proposed, by means of internal transport and bicycle rental, facilitating travel between the different centers and offering a better quality to the visitor’s experience. New food service, renovation of the Visitors Center, renovation and structuring of trails and viewpoints, signage and visual interpretation, renovation of an interpretive museum, ecotourism activities, water activities in the lagoon, among others, are proposed.
