Founded in 1693, from a small traveler village, Curitiba became an important commercial stop, later becoming, in 1853, the capital of the newly emancipated Province of Paraná. Known for its large streets, it maintained a rhythm of urban growth, and it welcomed diverse European immigrants, mostly Germans, Poles, Ukrainians and Italians, which during the 19th century pushed the city’s cultural diversity, and today, this is well shown by its architecture.