scubish.com: Travel information for Recife

Recife , the capital of Pernambuco, is one of the largest and most important cities on the northeastern coast of Brazil. This lively capital, originally founded by Dutch colonizers, is brimming with a vibrant culture, an interesting old town (which includes the oldest synagogue in the Americas) and some nice beaches.
Understand

Recife is located in the Atlantic coast, at the mouth of the Capibaribe, Beberibe and Jordão Rivers, close to the eastern most point of the Americas. The climate is tropical, with two main seasons: dry (September-March) and rainny (April-August). Average annual temparature is 26 degrees Celsius, with limited variation. The city, which is only two meters above the sea level (some parts are below the sea level), is distributed across rivers, canals and islands. Due to the prevalence of waterways in its geography, Recife is know as the Brazilian Venice. Its 1.5 million inhabitants (3.5 million in the Grande Recife) are called recifenses. Services are the base of the economy. Despite the high incidence of poverty, the municipal Human Development Index (HDI) in 2000 (0.797) was above Brazil's national average (0.757). Recife is famous for its beaches, history, carnaval, arts and cuisine.

The city can be roughly divided in four major areas: (1) Centro (Downtown), (2) Zona Sul (Southern Zone), (3) Zona Oeste (Western Zone), and (4) Zona Norte (Northern Zone).

The Centro is composed of the neighborhoods of Recife Antigo (Old Recife), Santo Antônio, São José, Santo Amaro and Boa Vista, which are scattered through a couple of islands and part of the mainland. They are connected to each other by a series of bridges over the Capibaribe River. The Centro contains most of the historic and government buildings in the city. The port, located in Recife Antigo, was once the most active in all of the Americas.

Zona Sul is the most modern and touristic part of the city, as it was built around the beautiful natural reef beaches that gave the city its name (recife is Portuguese for reef). This area is were most hotels and restaurants are located, as well as the airport and the largest shopping mall. Its most important neighborhood is Boa Viagem, set along the beautiful Boa Viagem beach.

Zona Oeste is by far the greenest part of the city. It contains remnants of the Atlantic Forest that once covered most of the Brazilian eastern coast. It contains two famous museums (Instituto Ricardo Brennand and Museu-Oficina Francisco Brennand), as well as the Federal University of Pernambuco.

Zona Norte is mostly a residential area. Throughout the centuries, the neighborhoods along the Capibaribe River were home to the local aristocracy. It contains the city's best schools and hospitals, and is also famous for its parks and bars.

The term Grande Recife is used to describe the Metropolitan Region of Recife, the fifth largest urban agglomeration in Brazil (after Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeio Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre) and the single largest in the Northeast. Grande Recife offers superb touristic attractions both in Recife proper and outside the city limits. Do not miss Olinda or Porto de Galinhas. The first is famous for its natural setting, colonial architecture and carnaval, while the second has been consistently voted the best beach in Brazil. Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Itamaraca Island and Igarassu are known for their beautiful beaches and important historical monuments.

Get in

By air
Recife's very modern Guararapes-Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) is efficient, user-friendly and very close to the city. There are direct scheduled flights to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Salvador, Fortaleza, Maceió, Natal, Joao Pessoa, Aracaju, Petrolina, Campina Grande, as well as to Lisbon (Portugal), Madrid (Spain) and Paris (France). There are also regular charter flights from other European cities, such as Milan (Italy), Oporto (Portugal), Helsinki (Finland), and Amsterdam (Netherlands).
Airlines operating regular scheduled flights to Recife: BRA, GOL, OCEANAIR, TAF, TAM, TAP, TRIP and VARIG.

By car

Since Recife is located in the eastern edge of Pernambuco, distances to other destinations in the state can vary signifcantly: Olinda (7 Km), Cabo de Santo Agostinho (33 Km), Igarassu (39 Km), Itamaracá (49 Km), Porto de Galinhas (64 Km), Tamandaré (99 Km), Caruaru (135 Km), Garanhuns (245 Km), Triunfo (450 Km), Serrita (544 Km), Araripina (690 Km) and Petrolina (740 Km).

Recife can be easily reached by road from other cities in the Northeast. Three state capitals are less than four hours away: João Pessoa (120 Km), Maceió (285 Km) and Natal (297 Km). A twelve-hour drive separates Recife from either Fortaleza (800 Km due north) or Salvador (839 Km due south).

It is also possible to drive from/to other regions of Brazil, but distances are significantly longer: Belo Horizonte (2,061 Km), Belém (2,074 Km), Brasília (2,220 Km), Rio de Janeiro (2,338 Km), Sao Paulo (2,660 Km), Curitiba (3,078 Km) and Rio Branco (5,243 Km).

Federal Highway BR-101, also known as the Translitoranean, connects Recife with beaches along Pernambuco's coast, other coastal cities in the Northeast (Natal, Joao Pessoa, Maceio, Aracaju, Salvador), as well as Vitoria and Rio de Janeiro.

Federal Highway BR-232 connects Recife with Gravatá and Caruaru.

Federal Highway BR-408 connects Recife with Campina Grande.

By bus

Recife's long-distance bus terminal, Terminal Integrado de Passageiros (TIP), is way out in the suburbs. For information, call TIP at (81) 3452-1999. TIP is connected to the city by MetroRec train (around 15 minutes). Bus companies have booths at the Central MetroRec station in town, so at least you do not have to trek out just to buy advance bus tickets.

Bus companies serving Recife's TIP Bus Station:

Boa Esperança, tel.: (81) 3452.1618 (to/from Belém)

Bonfim, tel.: (81) 3452.1155/2066 (to/from João Pessoa),

Borborema, tel.: (81) 3452.2859 (to/from Vitória de Santo Antao),

Caruaruense, tel.: (81) 3452.2500 (to/from Caruaru, Gravatá)

Cruzeiro, tel.: (81) 3452.2025 (to/from Porto de Galinhas, Tamandaré)

Expreso 1002, tel.: (81) 3452.2796 (to/from Aliança, Carpina, Limoeiro, Paudalho, Salgadinho, Surubim, Timbaúba, Taquaritinga do Norte)

Expresso Guanabara, tel.: (81) 3452.2100 (to/from Fortaleza, Mossoró, Imperatriz, Marabá)

Gontijo, ), tel.: 0800-311-312 (to/from Belo Horizonte, Montes Claros, Sao José do Rio Preto, Uberaba, Uberlândia, Vitória da Conquista)

Itamaracá, tel.: (81) 3542-1011 and 3424- 8331 (to/from Abreu e Lima, Igarassu, Itamaracá Island, Paulista)

Itapemirim, tel.: (81) 3452.2111 (to/from Barra do Garças, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Campos, Curitiba, Feira de Santana, Foz do Iguaçu, Goiânia, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Sao Paulo, Vitória, Vitória da Conquista)

Jotude, tel.: (81) 3452.1741 (to/from Garanhunhs, Gravatá)

Leao do Norte, tel.: (81) 2121-9111 (to/from Arcoverde, Campina Grande, Paulo Afonso)

Penha, tel.: 0800-723-2122 (to/from Feira de Santana, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador)

Princesa do Agreste, tel.: (81) 3452.1371 (to/from Araripina, Crato, Juazeiro do Norte, Salgueiro, Serra Talhada, Teresina)

Progresso, (to/from Aracaju, Araripina, Arcoverde, Campina Grande, Garanhuns, Joao Pessoa, Juazeiro, Monteiro, Natal, Paulo Afonso, Pesqueira, São Luís, Serra Talhada, Teresina, Triunfo). Tickets can be bought in Boa Viagem, tel.: (81) 3465-4640; Boa Vista, (81) 3231-1860; MetroRec Central Station, (81) 3424-5648

Real Alagoas, tel.: (81) 3452.1511 (to/from Aracaju, Ipojuca, Maceió, Maragogi, Sao José da Coroa Grande, Sirinhaém)

São Domingos, tel.: (81) 3452.2462

São Geraldo, tel.: (81) 3452.2733 (to/from Caruaru, Curitiba, Foz do Iguaçu, Garanhuns, Palmas, Petrolina, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo)

Transacreana, tel.: (11) 6698-7399 and (61) 8402-8418 (to/from Cacoal, Cuiabá, Feira de Santana, Ji-Paraná, Porto Velho, Rio Branco, Rondonópolis, Vitória da Conquista)

By sea
You can arrive in cruise ships at the Port of Recife.

Cruises may come from other Brazilian states, from oher countries in South America and the Caribbean, or from Europe. Transatlantic cruise liners include Holland America Line ms Rotterdam, Holland America Line ms Prisendam, Oceania Cruises Insignia, SeaDream Yacht Club, Royal Caribbean International Splendour of the Sea, P&O Cruises Artemis, Cunard Line Queen Elizabeth II, among others.

Cruises from Recife to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago are also available.

Get around

Taxi is the best bet. Look for registered taxi companies which charge standard rates. Ask for a car with air conditioning (especially in the summer).

*TeleTáxi | Fone: (81) 3421.4242

*Ligue Táxi | Fone: (81) 3228.6830

*Coopetáxi | Fone: (81) 3224.8441

*Disk Táxi | Fone: (81) 3224.5410

*RádioTáxi Recife | Fone: (81) 3222.6580

*Recife Táxi | Fone: (81) 3424.3020

Rent a car:

*Avis | Fone: (81) 3341.2542

*Clean Car | Fone: (81) 3326.4236

*Fleet Car | Fone: (81) 3465.4777

*Hertz | Fone: (81) 3461.1222

*Interlocadora | Fone: (81) 3341.5364

*Localiza | Fone: (81) 3341.2082

*Locarauto | Fone: (81) 3341.6544

*Nobre | Fone: (81) 3326.5673

*Rede Brasil | Fone: (81) 3341.5549

*Unidas | Fone: (81) 3325.5949

Buses are the best form of public transportation. They are all over the city.

MetroRec, Recife's subway system. Although it is the third largest in Brazil, it only covers limited areas of the city. It provides a useful link between the city center and the TIP Bus Station in the outskirts. Otherwise, the metro does not serve any major tourist areas. The Southern Line, which is under construction, will provide direct access to the airport and Shopping Center Recife.

See

Beaches

The best beach in Recife is by far Boa Viagem, a huge long beach with pristine white sands. If you want a tan, you came to the right place. The beach road has a wide walkway attached and this is dotted with huts selling food and drink. Try the traditional "água de coco" (coconut water). The beach itself is full of vendors pitches selling food and drink. There are also vendors selling t-shirts, hats, suncream, sunglasses. These guys can get a bit insistant. Simply smile and one word will have them on their way. Nao (pronounced "now")

The coast around Recife has wonderful beaches. Do not miss Porto de Galinhas, Maracaípe, Serrambi, Tamandaré, São José da Coroa Grande, Muro Alto, Cupe, Suape, Calhetas, Gaibu, Maria Farinha and Itamaracá Island.

Churches

Convento Franciscano de Santo Antônio (Franciscan Convent of Saint Anthony). Rua Imperador Pedro II, Santo Antônio, (Centro), . Open: Mon-Fri 8am-11:30am and 2pm-5pm, Sat 8am-11:30am. One of the city's biggest attractions, a convent containing the ostentatious Capela Dourada (Golden Chapel), which certainly lives up to its name. Built in 1588, it is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Brazil. Altar with gold covered engravings, beautiful paintings on the ceiling an impressive amount of Portuguese-style tiled panels. The convent also houses the Museu Franciscano de Arte Sagrada (Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art).

São Pedro dos Clérigos (Saint Peter of Clerics Cathedral). Pátio de Sao José (Centro), . Built between 1728 and 1782, the cathedral is located in the charming Saint Peter Square, surrounded by colorful colonial buildings. It is a replica of the Santa Maria Maggiore Sanctuary in Rome. Rosewood altar; pulpit engraved in gold; wooden ceiling sculpted with images of Saint Peter, the twelve apostles and the evangelists. Blend of baroque art, 16th century mannerism, as well as rococo and neoclassic elements.

Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Carmel Basilica and Convent). Avenida Dantas Barreto, Santo Antônio (Centro), . Open: Mon-Fri from 7am-7pm, Sat 7am-noon, Sun 8am-noon and 6pm-9pm. Built between 1710-1767, were once stood the Boa Vista Palace built by the Dutch governor of Northeastern Brazil. A religious art collection can also be visited. Baroque in style; altar with gold engravings and crowns of gold and precious stones. One of the rooms is covered with Portuguese tiles.

Santíssimo Sacramento - Matriz de Santo Antônio (Holy Sacrament - Saint Anthony Mother Church). Praça da Independência, Santo Antônio (Centro). Open: daily, 7am-noon and 2pm-6pm. Built between 1753 and 1790, the church is in manueline/baroque style. Interior decorated with enormous crystal chandelier and images of Saint Anthony and Saint Sebastian.

Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Homens Pretos (Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black Men). Rua Estreita do Rosário, Santo Antônio (Centro). Open: Mon-Fri 9am-1:30pm and 2:30pm-6pm, Sat 8am-noon. Erected by African-Brazilian slaves in the 17th century. Main wooden altar engraved in gold; lateral altars display images from the 18th century.

Madre de Deus (Mother of God). Rua Madre de Deus, Recife Antigo (Centro), next-door to the Paço Alfândega Shopping Mall, tel.: (81) 3224-5587. Open: Tue-Fri 8am-noon and 2pm-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-noon.

Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao dos Militares (Our Lady of the Conception of the Military). Rua Nova, 309, Santo Antônio, Centro, tel.: (81) 3224-3106, . Built in 1726. The 1781 ceiling paintings depict the Guararapes Battle against the Dutch. Leaders from the Praieira Revolution and the Paraguay War are burried in the church. The church also houses the Museu de Arte Sacra Padre Roberto Barbalho (Father Roberto Barbalho Museum of Sacred Art).

Santa Cruz (Holy Cross). Pátio de Santa Cruz, Boa Vista (Centro). Built between 1725 and 1732. Parts of the movie Lisbela e o Prisioneiro (2003) were shot in the square in front of the church.

Nossa Senhora do Pilar (1680). Recife Antigo (Centro).

Nossa Senhora do Terço (1726). Rua Vidal de Negreiros, São José (Centro).

São José do Ribamar (1635-1778). Rua São José do Ribamar, São José (Centro).

Nossa Senhora do Livramento (1715-1822).

Matriz da Boa Vista (1784-1889). Boa Vista (Centro).

Capela da Jaqueira. Parque da Jaqueira, Aflitos (Zona Norte).

Museums (Historic Interest)

Ricardo Brennand Institute. Alameda Antônio Brennand, Várzea (Zona Oeste), tel.: (81) 2121-0352 / (81)2121-0365, . Open: Tue-Sun, 1pm-5pm. Holds a very impressive collection of Brazilian and European historical artifacts from the 15th to 19th centuries. Special attention given to the period of Dutch occupation in Recife and Northeastern Brazil. Highly Recommended.

Museum of the Northeastern Man. Museu do Homem do Nordeste, Avenida 17 de Agosto, 2187, Casa Forte (Zona Norte), tel.: (81) 3441-5500 (take the "Dois Irmãos" bus in front of the Central Post Office in downtown, and ask the driver to let you off), . Part of the Fundação Joaquim Nabuco. This fantastic museum depicts the various folk arts, traditions, and history of Northeast Brazil. The displays are divided among three sections, focusing on sugar, folk arts, and anthropology. It's located in the suburbs, but well worth the ride out.

Museum of the State of Pernambuco. Museu do Estado de Pernambuco, Avenida Rui Barbosa, 960, Graças (Zona Norte), tel.: (81) 3427-9322 and 3427-0766, . Open: Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 2pm-5pm.

Museum of the City of Recife. Museu da Cidade do Recife, Forte das Cinco Pontas, São José (Centro), tel.: (81) 3224-8492. Open: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 1pm-5pm. Located at the 17th century Cinco Pontas Fortress.

Military Museum. Museu Militar, at the Brum Fortress, Praça da Comunidade Luso-Brasileira, Recife Antigo (Centro).

Abolition Museum. Museu da Abolição, Rua Benfica, 1150, Madalena (Zona Norte), . Museum that covers the period of slavery and the abolionist movement in XIX century Brazil. Former plantation house. Former residence of Counsellor Joao Alfredo, leader of Brazil's abolitionist movement in the 19th century.

Value Museum. Museu de Valores, Rua da Aurora, 1259, Santo Amaro (Centro), tel.: 0800-992-345, . Open: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm. Museum of by the local representation of the Central Bank of Brazil. Holds more than 7,000 historic coins from Brazil and abroad, historic maps and artifacts found during excavations at Fort Orange, in nearby Itamaracá Island.

Train Museum. Museu do Trêm, Estação Central, Praça Visconde de Mauá, São José (Centro), tel.: (81) 3224-4620. Open: Mon-Thu 1pm-6pm, Fri 8am-noon. The Train Museum is located in the old Central Train Station, which now also serves as the central station for MetroREC, Recife's subway system.

Museum of the Archeological, Historic and Geographic Insitute of Pernambuco. Museu do Instituto Arqueológico, Histórico e Geográfico de Pernambuco, Rua do Hospício , 130, Boa Vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 3222.4952. Open: Mon-Fri 1pm-5pm, Sat 8am-noon.

Museum of Natural History Louis Jacques Viget. Museu de História Natural Louis Jacques Brunet, Rua da Aurora, Boa Vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 3303-5315 / (81) 3421-7427. Created in 1861, it is one of the first natural history museums in Latin America. Located at Ginásio Pernambucano. Collection spans archeology, botany, geology and zoology.

Museum of Archeology of the Catholic University of Pernambuco. Museu de Arqueologia da Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, Rua do Príncipe, 526, Bl G, 1° Andar, Boa vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 3216.4192, . Archeological museum focused on indigenous artifacts. Located at the Catholic University of Pernambuco.

Casa-Museu Gilberto Freyre. Rua Jorge Tasso Neto, Apipucos (Zona Norte), tel.: (81) 3441.1733, . Open: Mon-Fri, 9pm-4:30pm Beautiful house where once lived Brazil's greatest sociologist, Gilberto Freyre.

Casa Manuel Bandeira/Espaço Pasárgada. Rua da União, 26, Boa Vista (Centro), next door to Joaquim Nabuco Palace and Pernambucan School, tel.: (81) 3231-3994, . Open: Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm. House were the acclaimed poet Manuel Bandeira spent his childhood.

Museums (Art & Folklore Interest)

Museu-Oficina Francisco Brennand. Propriedade Santos Cosme e Damião, near Avenida Caxangá and Rua Gastão Vidigal, Cordeiro, Zona Oeste, . Great ceramic art in a bucolic area of the city surronded by forest.

Parque das Esculturas, a sculpture park on the reefs of the port of Recife. Contains more than 90 sculptures by Francisco Brennand, including a 30 meter high tower. Getting there: take a canoe ride from Praça do Marco Zero, in Recife Antigo (Centro). Alternatively, drive through Brasília Teimosa (Zona Sul).

Museu da Imagem e do Som de Pernambuco (MISPE) . Rua da Aurora, Boa Vista, Centro, tel.: (81) 3231-2716, . Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 1pm-5pm. Image and Sound Museum. Holds more than 6,000 pieces, including movies, records, photographs, postcards and the like. Uses modern audivisual techniques to document Pernambuco's culture.

Aluísio Magalhães Modern Art Museum (Museu de Arte Moderna Aluísio Magalhães (MAMAM). Rua da Aurora, 265, Boa Vista Centro, tel.: (81) 3232-2188 and 3232-1694, . Open: Tue-Sun noon-6pm.

MAMAM at the Courtyard (MAMAM no Pátio). Unit of the Aloísio Magalhães Modern Art Museum (MAMAM) at the São Pedro Courtyard. Experimental space for visual arts and critical reflection concerning contemporary development in these arts. Short term exhibitions, performance art, workshops, debates. Pátio de São Pedro, 17, São José (Centro), tel.: (81) 3232-2844 / (81) 3232-2857. Open: MTThF noon-

Museu Murillo La Greca. Rua Leonardo Bezerra Cavalcanti 366, Parnamirim, Zonta Norte, tel.: (81) 3232-4276, . Open: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm. More than 1,400 drawings and 160 paintings by paintor Murillo La Greca. The paintor's biography (in Portuguese) and some of his works can be seen at Cyberartes.

Museu de Arte Sacra Padre Roberto Barbalho. Located at Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao dos Militares Church, the museum contains religious artifacts. Rua Nova, 309, Santo Antônio, Centro, tel.: (81) 3224-3106.

Museu Franciscano de Arte Sacra. Located at Santo Antônio de Sao Francisco Convent. Rua Imperador Pedro II, Santo Antônio, Centro.

Museu de Arte Popular. Pátio de São Pedro, 11, São José, Centro. Open: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

Casa do Carnaval. Pátio de São Pedro, 52, São José, Centro, tel.: (81) 3224.1103, . Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm.

Museu do Frevo. Casa da Cultura, Rua Floriano Peixoto, Santo Antônio, Centro.

Other Historic Buildings

Santa Isabel Theater (1850). Teatro Santa Isabel, Praça da República, Santo Antônio (Centro), . One of Brazil's finest theaters.

Princesses' Field Palace (1841). Palácio do Campo das Princesas, Praça da República, Santo Antônio (Centro), tel.: (81) 3425-2124, . The state governor's Palace. The name of the building derives from the fact that the daughters of Emperor Dom Pedro II used to play in the palace's gardens.

Justice Palace (1930). Palácio da Justiça, Praça da República, Santo Antônio (Centro), tel.: (81) 3419-3311, . Seat of the Pernambuco State Judiciary.

Arts and Trades School (1836-1880). Liceu de Artes e Ofícios, Praça da República, Santo Antônio (Centro). Currently closed to visitation.

Portuguese Reading Room (1850). Gabinete Português de Leitura (1850), Rua do Imperador, 290, Santo Antônio (Centro), tel.: (81) 3224-2593, . Open: Mon-Fri, 8am-noon and 1pm-5pm.

Joaquim Nabuco House. Rua da Imperatriz, 147, Santo Antônio (Centro). House were 19th century politician, abolitionist and author Joaquim Nabuco was born.

Joaquim Nabuco Palace (1874). Assembléia Legislativa do Estado de Pernambuco, Rua da União, 439, Boa Vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 3217-2211, . Seat of the Pernambuco State Legislature. A Historical Documents Collection can be visited in the annex building.

Pernambucan School (1825-1855). Ginásio Pernambucano, Rua da Aurora, 703, Boa Vista, (Centro), next door to the State Assembly and Manuel Bandeira's House. One of Brazil's oldest secondary schools. The shool's Louis Jacques Brunet Natural History Museum was one of the first in Latin America. Father Carapuceiro, Barbosa Lima Sobrinho, Epitácio Pessoa and Ariano Suassuna were either teachers or students here. The school was visited by Emperor Dom Pedro II.

Recife Law School. Faculdade de Direito do Recife, Praça Adolfo Cirne, Boa Vista (Centro). Brazil's oldest Law School

Parque Theater (1915). Teatro do Parque, Rua do Hospício, 81, Boa Vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 3423-6044.

Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue. Rua do Bom Jesus, Recife Antigo (Centro), . Oldest synagogue in the Americas.

Malakoff Tower Cultural Obseratory (1853). Torre Malakoff, Rua do Observatório, Recife Antigo (Centro), tel.: (81) 3424.8704, . Open: Tue-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 2pm-8pm, Sun 2pm-7pm. Beautiful tower in the port front. Functions as an astronomic observatory and arts and science center.

Apolo Theater (1842). Rua do Apolo, Recife Antigo (Centro).

Bandepe Cultural Institute. Instituto Cultural Bandepe, Praça do Marco Zero, Recife Antigo (Centro), tel.: (81) 3224-1110, .

Stock Exchange of Pernambuco and Paraíba. Bolsa de Valores de Pernambuco e Paraíba, Praça do Marco Zero, Recife Antigo (Centro).

Pernambuco Commercial Association. Associaçao Comercial de Pernambuco, Praça do Marco Zero, Recife Antigo (Centro), .

Casa da Cultura (1850). Rua Floriano Peixoto, São José (Centro), tel.: (81) 3224-2850, . Open: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9am-2pm.

São José Market (1875), São José (Centro).

Benfica Cultural Center. Centro Cultural Benfica, Rua Benfica, 157, Madalena (Zona Norte); tel.: (81) 3227-0657 and 3228-6589, . Open: Mon-Fri, 9am-noon and 2pm-5pm. The center specializes in the "Armorial" Movement and also holds a significant portion of the pieces from the old Fine Arts School.

Pernambucan Academy of Letters (1870). Academia Pernambucana de Letras, Av. Rui Barbosa, 1586, Graças (Zona Norte), .

Historical homes at Poço da Panela neighborhood (Zona Norte).

Historical homes at Apipucos neighborhood (Zona Norte).

Recife's Carnaval is one of the country's busiest. Very different from its carioca counterpart, in Recife street shows and parades play contagious rhythms like Frevo and Maracatu, attracting more than 1.6 million people to celebrate and dance on the streets every year. See pictures of two special carnaval events: Galo da Madrugada and Noite dos Tambores Silenciosos. Apart from Frevo and Maracatu, two other cultural manifestations that are typical of Pernambucan Carnaval include Bumba-meu-boi and Caboclinho.

Maracatu Rehearsals (ensaios de maracatu). Some of the most traditional maracatu groups include: Leão Coroado (since 1863), Estrela Brilhante do Recife (since 1909), Porto Rico (since 1916), Cambinda Estrela do Recife (since 1935), Elefante, among others.

Catamaran Rides in the Capibaribe River. Contact: Catamaran Tours, Cais das Cinco Pontas, Avenida Sul, São José (Centro), tels.: (81) 3424-2845 and (81) 9973.4077. Daily, at 4pm and 8pm. Tour last 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Scuba-diving at shipwreck park off the coast of Recife. Recife is known as Brazil's shipwreck capital: more than 100 ships have sunk in the coast around the city, 15 of which are accessible to tourists. Together with the natural coral reefs, they make the coast of Recife a perfect spot for scuba-diving.

Soccer matches. The city is home to three traditional soccer clubs.

Volleyball and footvolley at Boa Viagem beach. The latter was first developed into a sport in the sands of Recife, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s.

Buy

Casa de Cultura, across from the old Central Train Station (now Train Museum). Once the city prison, it is now a warren of small shops (one in each cell) selling regional arts and crafts.

Mercado de Sao José (Sao José Market), 1871 project of architect J. Louis Liethier and engineer Louis Léger Vauthier. Iron structure was inspired in the Grenelle Market in Paris, France. Historically, the market played an important role as a meeting place for street magicians, musicians, acrobats and the like. Although most street artists are since gone, you can still find traditional handicrafts, regional food, medicinal herbs and Cordel Literature.

Recife is a major commercial hub in Brazil. Large shopping malls include Shopping Center Recife (among Brazil's largest), Shopping Center Tacaruna, Shopping Center Guararapes, Plaza Casa Forte, and Shopping Boa Vista. A special visit to Paço Alfândega is highly recommended. Paço Alfândega (Customs' Palace in Portuguese) is a comfortable, modern shopping mall set in the renovated structure of a colonial customs house building from the early 1700s, period in which Recife was the largest port in the Americas. There is a permanent historic exhibition on the history of Recife and the customs building. The mall also houses one of Recife's main nightclubs and some good restaurants. You can have a good view of the Capibaribe River and its bridges from the main terrace. Next door, you can visit the wonderful Livraria Cultura bookstore.

Eat

Local specialties
Pernambuco has a multicultural gastronomy with African and indigenous influences, among others. The national dish is Feijoada and this can be had in most restaurants. It is a stew of beans, pork and beef, and served with rice and Farofa.
Seafood is exotic and delicious. The regional food has some peculiarities like Carne de Sol and buchada, a dish prepared with stomach of billy goat.

Recife is the birthplace of two traditional and delicious cakes Bolo de Rolo (try with "Reino" cheese), and Bolo Sousa Leão.

Do try the snacks on offer from beach vendors. Little chicken and beef kebabs, oysters, prawns and grilled cheese. Just be aware that some of the vendors may have been carrying them around for hours-- if it doesn't look fresh, it probably isn't.

A must try is Caldinho: a soup served all over the place (restaurants, dedicated carts and people with flasks selling it on the beach). Comes in a variety of flavors from black bean to shrimp. The person selling it will say "completa" upon you ordering it. This simply means "complete", and if you say yes at this point you get a few added extras such as a small boiled egg put into the cup of hot soup.

Beach food
Fancy sitting around all day on the beach under a beach umbrella (the sun is unbelievably hot in Recife)? Well, you can! The chairs and the guy to keep moving the umbrella so that you don't get sunburn is free. All they ask in return is that you buy your food and drink from them.
They all carry a menu and the food arrives quickly and is cooked fresh there on the beach. Try the seafood. The fish will have been caught locally, earlier that same day.

Apart from your own vendor, there will be a variety of vendors walking up and down the beach, selling a variety of things. Learning the language for these items is useful but unnecessary as the vendor will take the time to show you what he/she has on offer.

Prawns (Camarao): Be careful of the prawns; smell them before purchase. A free sample is available with the word "prova". They might have been walked up and down the beach for hours in the hot sun. A quick sniff is enough to tell you if they are fresh or not. If you decide to eat them, here is a quick tip: hold the tail of the prawn, tear off and discard the head and leg sections, hold the very tip of the tail, pop the rest in your mouth and bite off the tip leaving it in your fingers. Yes, you can eat the shell; peel it if you wish, but you will not see the locals doing this.

Oysters (Ostra): The guy will be carrying a bucket full of ice and live oysters. They are prepared for you one at a time. Served with a squeeze of lime, salt and cumin powder.

Crab : They do not come prepared, so unless you know which bits to eat and which bits to discard then steer clear. Oh, you need good teeth to crack the claws as well.

Grilled cheese (Queijo de Coalho): no warnings here just go ahead and enjoy. It is a real treat.

Kebabs (Espetinhos): Grilled chicken or beef. Cooked fresh right in front of you.

Ice-cream: the prices are a lot more expensive than just off the beach. But you don't have to get out of your chair. In that heat, you will appreciate that.

Caldinho: you will notice guys walking up and down the beach with flasks. These are full of different flavours of a soup called Caldinho. My favorite is the prawn one with hot pepper sauce.

Ovos de codorna: small boiled eggs ready to peel salt and eat.

Nuts: a variety of nuts is available. Cashew being the most obvious because it is grown right there in Northeastern Brazil. Also, peanuts in 2 varieties: roasted or boiled. The boiled ones are going to be strange to you at first: they look like they sweated in the little plastic bag they come in. But this is the boiling process, they are delicious.

Budget

Carne-de-Sol do Cunha, Rua Rigueira Costa, 80, Rosarinho, Zona Norte, tel.: (81) 3241-6512. Pernambucan food.

Ta Sun Yuen, better known as Chinês da 48. Rua Quarenta e Oito, 623, Espinheiro, Zona Norte, tel.:(81) 3427-9300. Recife's most popular Chinese restaurant.

Mid-Range

Parraxaxá, Av. 17 de Agosto, 807, Casa Forte, Zona Norte, tel.: (81) 3268-4169; second location: Rua Baltazar Pereira, 32, Boa Viagem, Zona Sul, tel.: (81) 3463-7874, . Pernambucan food.

Tomaselli La Gondola, Rua Conselheiro Portela, 536, Espinheiro, Zona Norte, tel.: (81) 3427-3710, . Pizza, Italian.

Biruta, Rua Bem-Te-Vi, 15, Pina, Zona Sul (right in the beach), tel.: (81) 3326-5151, . Seafood, bar.

Leite, Praça Joaquim Nabuco, 147, Santo Antônio, Centro, tel.: (81) 3224-7977. Open since 1882, it is Recife's most traditional restaurant.

London Pub, Rua Bom Jesus 207, Bairro do Recife. The buffet lunches are plentiful, though not particularly good.

Splurge
Recife is the gastronomic capital of the Northeast. There are more high-quality restaurants here than in any other city in Brazil north of Rio de Janeiro.

Assucar, Rua da Alfândega, 35, Recife Antigo, Centro (at Shopping Paço Alfândega), tel.: (81) 3419-7582. Pernambucan food.

É, Rua do Atlântico, 147, Boa Viagem, Zona Sul, tel.: (81) 3325-9323, . Modern, fusion.

Mingus, Rua Atlantico 102, Boa Viagem, Zona Sul, . Modern, jazz, restaurant.

Othello, Rua Laurindo Coelho, 55, Casa Forte, Zona Norte, tel.: (81) 3267-5247. Italian.

Pomodoro Café, Rua Capitão Rebelinho 418, Pina, Zona Sul, tel.: (81) 3326-6023, . Italian.

Porto Ferreiro, Av. Rui Barbosa, 458, Graças, Zona Norte, tel.: (81) 3423-0854/(81) 3423-2794.

Ponte Nova, Rua Bruno Veloso, 528, Boa Viagem, Zona Sul, tel.: (81) 3327-7226, . Modern.

Quina do Futuro, Rua Xavier Marques, 134 (in the corner with Rua do Futuro), Aflitos, Zona Norte, tel.: (81)3241-9589, . Japanese.

Recanto Lusitano, Rua Antônio Vicente, 284, Setúbal, Zona Sul, tel.: (81) 3462-2161, . Portuguese.

Soho, Av. Cons. Aguiar, 1275, Boa Viagem, Zona Sul, tel.: (81) 3325-2666, . Japanese.

Restaurante de Mira, Av. Dr. Eurico Chaves, 916, Casa Amarela, Zona Norte, tel.: (81)3268-6241. Pernambucan food.

Tasca, Rua D. Jose Lopes 327, Boa Viagem, Zona Sul, tel.: (81)3326-6309. Portuguese.

Wiella Bistrô, Av. Domingos Ferreira 1274, Boa Viagem, Zona Sul, .

Boi Preto Grill, Av. Boa Viagem 97, Pina, Zona Sul, tel:(81) 3466-6334, . Churrascaria

Spettus Av. Agamenon Magalhães 2132, Derby, Zona Norte, . Churrascaria.

Porcao. Av. Engenheiro Domingos Ferreira, 4215, Boa Viagem, Zona Sul, tel.: (81) 3465-3999. Churrascaria.

Drink

Bars
There are many many bars in Recife, most if not all serve food as well as drinks. The prices are cheap, from R$2.50 to R$4 for a 600ml bottle of cerveja, a lager style beer.

There are bars of varying quality up and down the streets of Recife. A few good picks include:

Bar Central: situated centrally in Recife, sit inside or out on tables on the street, a lively and fun place more upmarket than most.

Biruta: a lovely bar on the north end of the beach that gets a great sea breeze all evening. Get there early to get a table with a view.

Entre Amigos - O Bode: a bar restaurant with 2 names and 3 seating areas one of which has air conditioning. Situated in downtown Boa Viagem and a 5 minute walk from the beach. great place to watch the football or soak up the lively atmosphere of the very busy bar, it has a great buffet for lunch or you can eat a la carte.

Centenário: go here and try the mozzarella cheese as a snack, it's served with tomatoes and olive oil and is fabulous. This is a busy and well run bar with a great atmosphere great for some late night dining.

Fiteiro: Great snacks and friendly waiters. Rua Afonso Celso, 264, Parnamirim; tel.: (81) 3442-4799.

Guaiamum Gigante: Huge bar-restaurant, with wonderful seafood. Rua Dr. José de Góes, Parnamirim; tel.: (81) 3441-1509.

Downtown Pub: Live music. Self-entitled "House of Rock". Rua Vigário Tenório, 105, Recife Antigo; tel.: (81) 3424-6317

At the less class end of the market there are some great bars, they don't have great signage to tell you that it's a bar. Basically if you see some plastic garden furniture in the street, you are looking at a bar. These are usually the most fun places with the loudest people and the most vibe. Be careful of the ice in places like this, it might not be made from bottled water. It also helps to have a good constitution of you are going to eat in these bars.

There are huts selling food, beer and the like about every half kilometer in the center of Boa Viagem beach.

Warning: Be sure to take a taxi to and from the bars you are visiting. Getting mugged is not the best way to end an otherwise pleasant evening out. Taxis are cheap and the staff will be only too happy to call one for you.

Entertainment

Dance Clubs

NOX, danceclub in Boa Viagem

OverPoint, danceclub in Recife Antigo

Depois Dancing Bar, danceclub in Recife Antigo

Downton Pub, bar/danceclub in Recife Antigo

Sala de Reboco, specialized in Forró, in Cordeiro

Metrópole, GLS danceclub in Boa Vista

Theaters

Recife is the third largest theater production center in Brazil, after Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The most traditional theater is Teatro Santa Isabel, while the most modern is the one at Convention Center of the Federal University of Pernambuco.

Santa Isabel Theater. Praça da República, Santo Antônio (Centro), .

Universidade Federal de Pernambuco Theater. UFPE Campus, Cidade Universitária (Zona Oeste), .

Guararapes Theater, at Centro de Convencoes de Pernambuco

Beberibe Theater, at Centro de Convencoes de Pernambuco

Valdemar de Oliveira Theater. Praça Oswaldo Cruz, 412, Boa Vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 3222-1284.

Teatro Barreto Júnior, Rua Estudante Jeremias Bastos, 121, Pina (Zona Sul), tel.: (81) 3326-4177

Teatro Apolo, Rua do Apolo, 121, Recife Antigo (Centro), tel.: (81) 3224-1114

Teatro SESC Casa Amarela (Teatro Capiba), Rua Professor José dos Anjos, 1109, Casa Amarela (Zona Norte), tel.: (81) 3441-8900

Teatro SESC Santo Amaro, Rua Marques do Pombal, Santo Amaro (Centro), tel.: (81) 3216-1616

Teatro Hermilo Borba Filho, Rua do Apolo, 121, Recife Antigo (Centro), tel.: (81) 3424-5429

Teatro Armazém 14, Rua Alfredo Lisboa, Cais do Porto, Recife Antigo (Centro), tel.: (81) 3424-5613

Teatro Espaço Cultural, Cais José Mariano, 288, Boa Vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 3442-5017

Cineteatro do Parque. Rua do Hospício, 81, Boa Vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 3423-6044.

Cineteatro José Carlos Cavalvante Borges (Teatro FUNDAJ), Rua Henrique Dias, 609, Derby (Zona Norte), tel.: (81) 3421-3266, .

Smaller Theathers:

Cineteatro Arraial, Rua da Aurora, 457, Boa Vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 3432-7285

Teatro Clênio Vanderley, Rua Floriano Peixoto São José (Centro), at Casa da Cultura, tel.: (81) 3224-2850

Teatro da Ribalta, Rua das Pernambucanas, 65, Graças (Zona Norte), tel.: (81) 3231-4884

Teatro Joaquim Cardozo, Rua Benfica, 157, Madalena (Centro), tel.: (81) 3227-0657

Teatro Maurício de Nassau, Rua Vigário Tenório, 135/143, Recife Antigo (Centro), tel.: (81) 3224-8790 / (81) 3225-3073

Teatro do Forte, Forte das Cinco Pontas, São José (Centro).

Cinema

Multiplex Shopping Center Recife. Shopping Center Recife, Rua Padre Carapuceiro, 777, Boa Viagem, Zona Sul; tel.: (81) 3207-3001, .

Multiplex Shopping Tacaruna. Shopping Center Tacaruna, Avenida Agamenon Magalhães, 153, Santo Amaro, Centro/Zona Norte; tel.: (81) 3207-3001, .

Multiplex Shopping Boa Vista. Shopping Boa Vista, Avenida Conde da Boa Vista, Boa Vista, Centro; tel.: (81) 3207-3001, .

Cine Rosa e Silva. Executive Trade Center, Avenida Rosa e Silva, 1460, Aflitos, Zona Norte; tel.: (81) 3243-8255, .

Cine Sao Luiz, the city's most traditional. Rua da Aurora, 175, Boa Vista, Centro; tel.: (81) 3423-8813.

Cineteatro do Parque. Rua do Hospício, 88, Boa Vista, Centro; tel.: (81) 3423-6044.

Cineteatro José Carlos Cavalvante Borges (Cine FUNDAJ), Rua Henrique Dias, 609, Derby (Zona Norte), tel.: (81) 3421-3266, .

Soccer

Soccer teams from Recife participate in the the A-Series (First Division) Brazilian Championship, the Brazil Cup and the Pernambucan Championship.

The three most traditional teams are: Clube Nautico Capibaribe (home: Aflitos Stadium); Sport Clube do Recife (home: Ilha do Retiro Stadium); and Santa Cruz Futebol Clube (home: Arruda Stadium). Nautico and Sport are currently in the A-Series Brazilian Champsionship. Santa Cruz is in the B-Series.

Recife is home to internationally famous soccer players, including Juninho Pernambucano, Rivaldo, Ricardo Rocha and and Vava.

Roller Hockey
The city of Recife is home to some of Brazil's top roller hockey teams: Clube Portugues do Recife, Clube Nautico Capibaribe, Sport Clube do Recife and Associacao Amigos do Minho do Recife. Both Clube Portugues and Sport have been national champions.

Beach Volleyball and Footvolley
Can be practiced along Boa Viagem beach.

Sleep

Many tourists stay along the beach in Boa Viagem, 10 km (7 mi) south of the center.

The area of Boa Vista just across the Ponte Velha from the train station has a number of budget and mid-range hotels.

Five Stars (*****)

Atlante Plaza, Av. Boa Viagem, 5426, in the beachfront of Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), . Arguably the best hotel in Recife. Beachfront.

Blue Tree Towers Recife, Av. Bernardo Vieira de Melo, 550, in Piedade beach (Jaboatao dos Guararapes), . Beachfront.

Recife Palace Hotel, Av. Boa Viagem, 4070, Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), tel.: (81) 4009-2500/4009-2523, . Beachfront.

MarHotel Recife, Rua Barão de Souza Leão, 451, Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), . Close to the airport.

Four Starts (****)

Internacional Palace Hotel, Av. Boa Viagem, 3722, Boa Viagem, tel. (81) 4009-2500, toll-free in Brazil 0800-702-8383, . Beachfront.

Marante Plaza Hotel, Av. Boa Viagem, 1070, Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), . Beachfront.

Other Hotels

Hotel Aconchego, Rua Félix de Brito e Melo, 382, Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), tel.: (81) 3464-2989 & (81) 3075.7767, .

Hotel Imperial Suites, Rua Antonio Lumack do Monte. 203, Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), . Close to Shopping Center Recife.

BestWestern Manibu Recife, Av Conselheiro Aguiar 919, Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), . 100 meters from the beach.

Holiday Inn Recife, Av. Engenheiro Domingos Ferreira, 3067, Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), . Two blocks from the beach.

Hotel Central, Av. Manoel Borba, 209, Boa Vista (Centro), tel. (81) 3222.4001 / 3222.2353 / 3222.9138. The oldest hotel in Recife. Used to attract stars and the like in the early 20th century. Remains architecturally appealing.

Hotel São Domingos, Praça Maciel Pinheiro, 66, Boa Vista (Centro), tel.: (81) 231-1388. Mid-range hotel with good buffet breakfast.

Pousadas

Pousada Villa Boa Vista, Rua Miguel Couto, 81, Boa Vista (Centro), . Close to downtown and the historic areas of the city.

Pousada Casuarinas, Rua Antônio Pedro Figueiredo, 151, Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), tel. (81) 3325-4708, . 200 meters from the beach.

Pousada Casa do Forte, Av. 17 de Agosto, 735, Casa do Forte (Zona Norte), tel: (91) 3268-0524.

Pousada Rosa e Silva, Av. Conselheiro Rosa e Silva, 1599, Graças (Zona Norte), tel. (81) 3241-3849 .

Hostels

Hostel Boa Viagem (Hosteling International-HI), Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), tel. (81) 3326-9572 / (81) 3466-2486,. Three blocks from the beach.

Albergue Maracatus de Recife (Hosteling International-HI), Rua Maria Carolina, 185, Boa Viagem (Zona Sul), tel. (81) 3326-1221 / 9292-5670, . 200 meters from the beach.

Piratas da Praia, Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, nº 2034 / 307, Boa viagem (Zona Sul), tel. (81) 3326-1281 / 9649-6887, . One block from the beach.

Stay Safe

Recife's reputation for safety is not one of the best. Do not be alarmed but keep aware of your environment and take the preventive measures recommended for other large cities in Brazil and Latin America.

Robbery in street buses can be fairly common.

While entering or leaving Olinda at dusk or dawn, you have a elevated risk of being ambushed.

Beware of the unlicensed guides. Make sure you have the travel itinerary planned out and a price (including meals, gas, etc.) agreed upon before starting out.

Watch out for shark warnings before entering the water at the Boa Viagem beach.

Get out

Olinda - This cute colonial town, just across the bridge from Recife, is a World Heritage Site.

Porto de Galinhas, Maracaípe, Serrambi and Tamandaré are wonderful beaches.

Itamaracá Island for its beaches, Coroa do Aviao islet, the 17th century Dutch Fort Orange, the colonial village of Vila Velha, and the IBAMA manatee nature center.

Igarassu, home to Brazil's oldest church and Latin America's largest collection of barroque paintaings.

São Benedito do Sul waterfalls.

Caruaru and Tracunhaém for their rich hadicraft. Caruaru is also famous for its open-air market, the largest in Brazil.

Nova Jerusalém , the world's largest theater-city, famous for its Passion of Christ during Holy Week.

Serrita, in the Sertao region, for its annual Missa do Vaqueiro, a religious-cultural event that honors northeastern cowboys.

Recife ( IPA: he'sifi) (Portuguese for reef), 2005 population 1.515.052 (3.646.204 in the metropolitan area) is the largest city in the Northeastern Region of Brazil, the largest metropolitan area and the most important cultural, economic, political and science-minded city in this Region. It is the fifth largest metropolitan area in Brazil and the capital of Pernambuco. Recife is also where the Beberibe River meets the Capibaribe River to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. It is a major port on the Atlantic Ocean. Recife is served by Guararapes International Airport.

Surrounded by rivers and crossed by bridges, Recife is full of islands and mangroves that magnify its geography. It is known as the Brazilian Venice, thanks to its fluvial resemblance with the European city, and is considered one of Brazil's cultural capitals.

Recife is the birthplace of poets and writers Manuel Bandeira, João Cabral de Melo Neto, Gilberto Freyre, Paulo Freire, Nelson Rodrigues, Carlos Pena Filho, Saulo Moreira and Sebastião Uchoa Leite,; and of such composers as Chico Science, Lenine, Fred Zero Quatro, Otto, Pochyua Andrade, Don Tronxo, Valença Brothers, Antônio Nóbrega, Naná Vasconcelos, Jorge du Peixe, Paulo Diniz, Fernando Lobo and Antônio Maria. Canadian ice hockey player Robyn Regehr and footballers Vavá, Rivaldo and Juninho Pernambucano were also born in Recife.

History

The area around Recife was one of the first in Brazil to be settled by the Portuguese Crown.
In 1534, John III of Portugal divided Brazil into Hereditary Captaincies (Capitanias Hereditárias, in Portuguese); the Portuguese realized that they had no human or financial resources to invest in such a large and distant colony, and decided to assign this task to private entrepreneurs, called Donatários (this system had already been successful in the settlement of the Portuguese colonies in Africa).

Because of several problems (the most obvious being the lack of support from the Portuguese metropolis), most Captaincies failed. One of the few to prosper was the Captaincy of Pernambuco, which was assigned to Duarte Coelho Pereira (the man who founded Olinda and became famous for expressing his enchantment with the beauty of the place, giving the name to the city).

Pernambuco prospered from the sugarcane industry (beet sugar was not industrially produced in Europe until the beginning of the 19th century). At the time, in Europe, sugarcane plantations could be grown only in Andalusia and the Algarve; in the 1420s, sugarcane was carried to the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores; the sugar from Brazil was very appreciated in Europe. Duarte Coelho found in Pernambuco plenty of fertile land and an excellent climate for the cultivation of cane; all he needed was labor to work in the crops and to keep the "engenhos" (rustic wooden machinery) moving.

At first, the Portuguese tried to use the indigenous peoples of Brazil, but they soon realized that the indigenous culture was not compatible with the work in the engenhos. The solution was to import black slaves from Africa; from the 16th to the 19th century, Pernambuco received many slaves, making it one of the Brazilian States where black culture has the most visible traces (in dance, music, culinary, etc).

Alone, this mixture of Portuguese, Indians and black slaves would be enough to make Recife one of the most culturally diverse cities in Brazil. The Dutch added to the mix.
From 1580 to 1640, the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal were unified under the rule of the former. Spain was engaged in a war against the Netherlands, and determined that the Dutch, who were the main distributors of Brazilian sugar in Europe, would be prohibited from coming to Brazil.

The Dutch decided to invade several sugar producing cities in Brazil, including Salvador and Natal. From 1630 to 1654, they took control of Recife and Olinda.
During this period, Recife became one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world. The first Jewish community and the first synagogue of the Americas was founded in the city. The inhabitants fought on their own to expel the Dutch, being helped by the involvement of the Dutch in the First Anglo-Dutch War. This was known as the Insurreição Pernambucana (Pernambucan Insurrection). Most of the Jews fled to Amsterdam; others fled to North America, starting the first Jewish community of New Amsterdam (now known as New York City).

During the 18th century, riots spread throughout the city, in which the rich farmers of Olinda and the traders from Recife clashed. Recife had a clear advantage in relation to Olinda: Olinda has no harbour, while Recife's Harbor is one of the best on the Atlantic. Recife's victory asserted the supremacy of its bourgeoisie over the decadent sugar aristocrats of Olinda. This was a decisive factor for Recife's growth. Recife is now a large city whereas Olinda is a small historical town.

Photos

Image:Capibaribe River's Bridges.jpg|River Capibaribe's bridges viewed through Paço Alfândega's mirror.
Image:River Capibaribe and ocean.jpg|River Capibaribe meeting the Atlantic Ocean, viewed through Paço Alfândega's mirror.
Image:BoaViagemBeach_Recife.jpg|Boa Viagem seen from the beach
Image:RecifePacoAlfandega.jpg|Paço Alfândega, perspective
Image:RecifeCasaDeBanhos.jpg|Cais de Santa Rita viewed from the Casa de Banhos Restaurant
Image:RecifeInstitutoRicardoBrennand.jpg|Instituto Ricardo Brennand
Image:RecifeAntigoChoveu.jpg|A rainy day in old Recife
Image:RecifeBoaViagem.jpg|Boa Viagem Beach, Piedade on the far end
Image:Campo_das_Princesas.jpg|"Campo das Princesas" Pernambuco Governement Palace
Image:baoba_recife.jpg|Baobab in front of Government Palace, "Praça da República"

Geography

Climate
Recife has a typical tropical climate, with warm to hot temperatures and high relative humidity all throughout the year. However, these conditions are relieved by a near absence of extreme temperatures and pleasant trade winds blowing from the ocean. January is the warmest month, with mean maxima of 32°C and minima of 22°C and more sun; July experiences the coolest temperatures, with mean maxima of 27°C and minima of 17°C and more rain.

Vegetation
Recife has a Tropical forest. Rainforests are characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 2,000 mm (about 78 inches or 2 meters) and 1700 mm (about 67 inches). The soil can be poor because high rainfall tends to leach out soluble nutrients. There are several common characteristics of tropical rainforest trees. Tropical rainforest species frequently possess one or more attributes not commonly seen in trees of higher latitudes or trees in drier conditions on the same latitude.

Demographics

As of the census of 2006, the population was 1,515,052, 43% of population of Metropolitan Area. The population density was 64,78/km².

Recife Ethnic Groups

According to the 2007 census, the racial makeup of the city was:

97% White and Mixed.

*Majority Portuguese descent.

*Minority Italian and Spanish descent.

3% Black or Afro-Brazilian.

Recife Demographics History

1. Amerindians, Brazil's indigenous population, came from human groups that migrated from Siberia across the Bering Strait around 9000 BC.

2. Portuguese and Dutch colonists and settlers, arriving from 1500 onward.

3. Diverse groups of immigrants from Europe arriving in Recife during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. And now, because of tourism.

4. African slaves brought to the country from 1530 until the end of the slave trade in 1850.

Curiosity

Vehicles: 354.254 (jun./2006);
Newspapers: 4 (jun./2006);
Foundation day: 12/03/1537.
Recife is know as "Brazilian Venice" because has more bridges and waterway.

Medical pole

The Metropolitan area of Recife has the 3º highest medical pole of Brazil only after of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Portuguese Hospital is the best of the city. Every years, more people of neighbor states, are going to Recife for treatment, in the biggest and the best medical pole of North-Northeast of Brazil. Recife has three universities of medicine, 2 public, Federal University of Pernambuco and University of Pernambuco; and 1 private, Boa Viagem College(School of Medicine).

Information Technology Industry

Recife has a modern Information Techonoly area (called "Digital Port" ("Porto Digital")), attracting more investments. Advantage of R$100.000.000 reais every years. Produced Chips and Programs of computer. Exported to Japan, China and other coutries.

Tourism and recreation

Among Recife's main tourist attractions are:

Churches and historical monuments, including 17th and 18th Century constructions from Portuguese and Dutch colonizers

Francisco Brennand's atelier of ceramic art

Ricardo Brennand Institute: cultural institute with museun, pinacotec and library.

Ancient Recife buildings: Forte Orange (which is really located in Itamaracá island, some 40 km from Recife)

Boa Viagem Beach (the city's most important beach)

Olinda (neighbor city) - a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Casa da Cultura: souvenir shops in an ancient prision building

The Carnival at Recife Antigo

There are many beaches surrounding Recife, such as:

Porto de Galinhas, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (60 km to the south) --> The most popular nearby tourist destination attracts tourists from around the world and boasts a thriving tourism industry. High end hotels and restaurants compete with more popular options and lie within the budget of most travelers.

Maracaípe, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (65 km to the south)

Serrambi, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (70 km to the south)

Tamandaré, Barreiros, Pernambuco (110 km to the south)

Itamaracá, Pernambuco (40 km to the north)

Economy

Alcohol in Pernambuco State
Pernambuco State has the 5th highest sugarcane brazilian
production.Brazil is by far the largest producer of alcohol fuel in the world, typically fermenting ethanol from sugarcane and sugar beets. The country produces a total of 18 billion liters annually, of which 3.5 billion are exported, 2 billion of them to the US. Alcohol cars debuted in the Brazilian market in 1978 and became quite popular because of heavy subsidy, but in the 80's prices rose and gasoline regained the leading market share.
But from 2004 on, alcohol is rapidly rising its market share once again because of new technologies involving hybrid fuel car engines called "Flex" by all major car manufacturers (Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Peugeot, Honda, Citroën, Fiat, etc.). "Flex" engines work with gasoline, alcohol or any mixture of both fuels. As of February 2007, approx. 80% of new vehicles sold in Brazil are hybrid fuel.Because of the Brazilian leading production and technology, many countries became very interested in importing alcohol fuel and adopting the "Flex" vehicle concept. In March 7th of 2007, US president George W. Bush visited the city of São Paulo to sign agreements with Brazilian president Lula on importing alcohol and its technology as an alternative fuel.

Education

Portuguese language is the official language of schools. But English language and Spanish language are part of the official high school curriculum.

Colleges and universities
Recife has a Universidade Federal de Pernambuco(UFPE),
Universidade Católica de Pernambuco(Unicap),
Universidade de Pernambuco(UPE),
Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco(UFRPE),
Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Pernambuco(Cefet-PE), Faculdade de Tecnologia de Pernambuco(Fatec-PE), and more others.

Culture

Recife is one of the most cultural cites in the northwest of Brazil, is the home of several artists, musicians and writers, and so do the frevo, a regional dance and music, typical in the carnival, and the Mangue Bit, a type of Brazilian rock with mixture of Maracatu, Ciranda, Rap and other music styles. At the carnival Recife hold one of the most authentic and democratic celebrations, on the downtown, every year more than one million peoples opens the festivities of the Brazilian Carnival at the Galo da Madrugada.

Cinema
Multiplex Tacaruna, Multiplex Recife, CineBox Guararapes,
Cinema do Parque and Cine São Luiz.

Theatre
Theatre Apolo, Theatre Hermilo Borba Filho, Theatre of Park, Theatre de Santa Isabel.

Museum
Instituto Ricardo Brennand, Memorial da Justiça, MISPE - Museu da Imagem e do Som de Pernambuco, Museu da Abolição, Museu da Aeronáutica, Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Pernambuco, Museu de Arte Moderna Aluísio Magalhães, Museu de Arte Sacra de Pernambuco,
Museu da Cidade do Recife, Museu de Ciências Naturais, Museu do Estado de Pernambuco, Museu do Homem do Nordeste, Museu Murillo La Greca, Centro Cultural Benfica and Fundação Gilberto Freyre.

Festa Junina (Saint John Festival)

These were introduced to Brazil by the Portuguese for whom Saint John´s day, on the 24th of June, is one of the oldest and most popular celebrations of the year. The festivities traditionally begin after the 12th of June, on the eve of Saint Anthony´s day, and last until the 29th, which is Saint Peter´s day. There are bonfires, folk dancing, fireworks, and typical refreshments are served.

Carnival

The four-day period before Lent leading up to Ash Wednesday is carnival time in Brazil. Rich and poor alike forget their cares as they party in the streets. Pernambuco has large Carnival celebrations, including the Frevo, typical Pernambuco music. Another famous carnaval music style from Pernambuco is Maracatu. The cities of Recife and Olinda hold the most authentic and democratic carnaval celebrations in Brazil. The largest carnaval in all of Brazil is Galo da Madrugada, which takes place in downtown Recife in the Saturday of carnaval. Another famous event is the "Noite dos Tambores Silenciosos".

Infrastructure

International airport
Guararapes International Airport.
The new Recife/Guararapes – Gilberto Freyre International Airport has been open since July 2004 and has 52 thousand square meters of area.
The largest airport in the North and Northeast regions, Guararapes had its capacity expanded from 1.5 million to 5 million passengers a year. There are currently 64 check-in counters, versus the former terminal’s 24.
The shopping and leisure area was also totally remodeled, within the “Aeroshopping” concept, which transforms an airport into a center for business, comfort and high-quality products and services. The commercial spaces will be occupied in steps and the final total will be 142 shops.
Since 2000, Recife has had the longest runway in the Northeast, at 3,305 meters. Its extension permits operations with jumbo jets, such as the Boeing 747-400, which can carry 290 passengers and 62 tons of cargo, with endurance to fly nonstop to anywhere in South and Central America, Africa and parts of Europe, the United States and Canada. Current domestic destinations include most major cities in Brazil, and there are also international flights to Paris, France and Lisbon, Portugal.

Port
Suape port.
Suape serves ships 365 days a year without any restrictions in regards to tide schedules. To assist in the docking operation of the ships, the port offers a monitoring system and laser ship docking system that enables effective, secure control and upholds the same technical standards as the most important ports across the globe.
The port moves over 5 million tons of cargo a year. The liquid granary (petroleum by-products, chemical products, alcohols, vegetable oils, etc.) constitutes more than 80% of the movement. The port can serve ships of up to 170,000 tpb and operational draft of 14.50m. With 27km² of backport, the internal and external ports offer the necessary conditions for serving large ships.
The access canal has 5,000m of extension, 300m in width and 16.5m in length.

Metro
In 2003, the metro was amplified, turned the second highest of Brazil, only after of São Paulo.

Districts

Aflitos

Afogados

Água Fria

Alto do Mandu

Alto José Bonifácio

Alto José do Pinho

Alto Santa Teresinha

Apipucos

Areias

Arruda

Bairro do Recife

Barro

Beberibe

Boa Viagem

Boa Vista

Bomba do Hemetério

Bongi

Brasília Teimosa

Brejo da Guabiraba

Brejo de Beberibe

Cabanga

Parnamirim

Caçote

Cajueiro

Campina do Barreto

Campo Grande

Casa Amarela

Casa Forte

Caxangá

Cidade Universitária

Coelhos

Cohab

Coqueiral

Cordeiro

Córrego do Jenipapo

Curado

Derby

Dois Irmãos

Dois Unidos

Encruzilhada

Engenho do Meio

Espinheiro

Estância

Fundão

Graças

Guabiraba

Hipódromo

Ibura

Ilha do Leite

Ilha do Retiro

Ilha Joana Bezerra

Imbiribeira

Ipsep

Iputinga

Jaqueira

Linha do Tiro

Jardim São Paulo

Jiquiá

Jordão

Macaxeira

Madalena

Mangabeira

Mangueira

Monteiro

Morro da Conceição

Mustardinha

Nova Descoberta

Paissandu

Passarinho

Pau Ferro

Peixinhos

Pina

Poço da Panela

Ponto de Parada

Porto da Madeira

Prado

Rosarinho

San Martin

Sancho

Santana

Santo Amaro

Santo Antônio

São José

Sítio dos Pintos

Soledade

Tamarineira

Tejipió

Torre

Torreão

Torrões

Totó

Várzea

Vasco da Gama

Zumbi

Main Neighborhoods

Aflitos

Afogados

Beberibe

Boa Viagem

Boa Vista

Bongi

Brasília Teimosa

Casa Amarela

Casa Forte

Cidade Universitária

Cordeiro

Derby

Espinheiro

Estância

Graças

Ibura

Ilha do Leite

Imbiribeira

Ipsep

Iputinga

Pina

Madalena

Recife Antigo

Santo Amaro

Santo Antônio

Setúbal

Várzea

Tamarineira

Torre

Sports

Recife provides visitors and residents with various sport activities. There are several soccer clubs based in Recife, such as Sport (1987 national soccer champion and 36 times state champion), Santa Cruz FC (24 times state champion), and Náutico (21 times state champion).

Crime

Recife's reputation for safety is not one of the best. Its metropolitan area has a rate of 69.4 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, which is bigger than in much larger Brazilian cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and more than twice the national average.

As of the Ipea and Datasus of 2003, to 100.000 hab.
102,3 Black people died in the city; and
15,5 White people died in the city.
In Recife and Brazil, being young, male and Black means being a priority target of letal violence, mainly because of poverty, inequality, and the predominance of violent drug gangs in poor communities.

According to Brazil's Constitution of 1988, racism is an unbailable crime and must be met with imprisonment. This is taken very seriously.

Shark Attacks

In recent years, the number of shark attacks on the beaches of Recife has dramatically increased.
Surfing has recently been outlawed on the urban beaches (Pina, Boa Viagem, Piedade, Candeias) because of the risk the sport poses.

External links

http://www.recife.pe.gov.br

Recife Official Site

Recife in Wikitravel

http://www.recifeguide.com/ Commercial site with touristic info about Recife.