Recife, Brazil

Recife (population 1.3 million, 3.5 million in the metropolitan area) is located in the Northeastern Region, and it's the fifth largest city in Brazil. It is the capital of the Pernambuco state and is a port on the Atlantic Ocean. It has been called the "Venice of Brazil" because it is dissected by numerous waterways and connected by many bridges. The city got its name from the coral reefs that line the coast. Local fishermen go out into the high seas in "jangadas", crude log rafts with beautiful sails unique to the area, that require expert navigational skills to maneuver.

History

The settlement was established by the Portuguese in 1537 and remained Portuguese until the independence of Brazil, with the exception of a brief period of Dutch occupation in the 17th century between 1630 and 1654. Recife has became a tourist destination recently, and for this reason it is less cosmopolitan and modern than other destinations, but has otherwise beautiful beaches and a very original culture.

Tourism

The city centre is near the Boa Viagem beach, hosting the finest restaurants and nightclubs. It gathers most of the tourism of the city. Another distric famous for its nightlife is Graça, where visitors can explore the old city and monuments like Praça da Republica, the Santa Isabel theatre, or the Sao Jose Market.

Other tourist atractions are:

• Churches and historical monuments
• Francisco Brennand's atelier of ceramic art
• Ancient Recife buildings
• Olinda - a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Casa da Cultura: souvenir shops
• The Carnival at Recife Antigo

There are many wonderful beaches surrounding Recife, such as:

• Porto de galinhas, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (60 km to the south)
• 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)
• Maragoji, Alagoas (150 km to the south)
• Praia de Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte (280 km to the north)
• Tambaba, Conde, Paraíba (115 km to the north)
• Serrambi, Ipojuca, Pernambuco

Recife has a rich folklore, including typical dances, food, paintings and sculpture. It's close to other interesting destinations such as Natal, Maceio, Joao Pessoa or Fortaleza.