RECIFE...
Welcome To The
Venice Of Brazil!
Porto do Galinhas - © Christian Knepper / Embratur
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Recife is a mixture of past and present, a city of harmonious contrast between old monuments and modern constructions.
Recife Antico - at present refurbished and packed with bars, restaurants and plenty of nightlife - is a good example of its colonial past, with buildings from 17th. and 18th. centuries reflecting both Portuguese and Dutch legacy in Brazil.
Visit Patio de São Pedro around the Cathedral, or the Old prison, converted into a Cultural Center.
Or perhaps the Bem Jesus street and the first synagogue of the Americas.
In fact, the list of attractions in huge...
- Golden Chapel
- Our Lady of Carmo Basilica and Convent
- Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black Men
- Saint Anthony Mother Church
- Saint Peter of Clerics Cathedral
Museums:
- Ricardo Brennand Institute
- Francisco Brennand Ceramic Shop
- Recife City Museum
- Northeastern Man Museum
- Gilberto Freyre Foundation
Olinda: Colonial Style Houses - © Christian Knepper / Embratur
Surrounded by the Capirabibe, Beberibe and Jordão rivers - with 39 bridges in the center of the city alone, with canals and small one-way streets - Recife is called the "Venice of Brazil".
A truly enchanting place...Its name means reef (Recife in Portuguese), as the city is positioned behind a long coastal reef.
Boa Viagem beach is a good example of this, a 7 km. stretch that goes from Pina (in the north) to Piedade (in the south), with white sand and emerald-green waters.
Porto do Galinhas - about 60 km. to the south - is the most famous destination in the whole Pernambuco State and ranked among the ten best beaches in Brazil.
It runs for about 18 km. with a chain of reefs lining all along. during low tide, water gets trapped by the reefs forming "piscinas naturais" (natural pools).
The name Porto do Galhinas means Port of Chickens.
In the 18th. century, when traffic of slaves was forbidden, chicken was the code name to refer to slaves.
Recife is also a favorite destination for scuba diving lovers, with a shipwreck yard full of sunken boats...
- Pirapama
- Vapor 48
- San Martin Arreiro
- Alfama de Lisboa
- Lupus
- B18
- Vapor Bahia
- Marte
- Servemar
And of course, the city is the main gateway to Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, and extraordinary heaven for diving and snorkelling about 550 km. away.
São Bento Monastery - © Christian Knepper / Embratur
But is through its Carnival celebration that Recife -and nearby town of Olinda- are really famous for.
People dancing to the music of Frevo and Maracatu bands...
SIDEBAR 1:
Frevo is a creation of the Recife Carnival played by brass-bands that can contain up to 36 musicians.
A fast paced music and dance performed with colorful umbrellas.
The street Frevo is divided in.. |
SIDEBAR 2:
Maracatu is a carnival group from Pernambuco, with close ties to Afro-Brazilian ceremonies.
Is composed of a small percussion orchestra with several types of drums, agogô, rattles, women dancers and a male singer.
There are two types.. |
The Carnival's highlight starts on Saturday with the Galo da Madrugada Group (Rooster of the Down), when over two million people follows a huge statue of a rooster while singing and dancing.
It will continue with the Night of the Silent Drums on Patio do Terço, to honor slaves that died in prison.
Recife: Maracatu - © Christian Knepper / Embratur
Your visit to Recife it wouldn't be complete without a trip to Olinda - around 8 km. away.
It's a living museum and considered to be the origin of the entire Brazilian culture of the 16th. century.
Olinda is truly unique. A restored and preserved colonial town listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Landmark in 1982.
Please do not miss...
- Ribeira Market
- Sacred Art Museum
- Bairro Novo Beach
..and the Baroque style Churches...
- Sâo Bento Monastery
- São Francisco convent
- Sé Cathedral
You will love this beautiful video of Porto do Galinhas...
How to Get There:
By Air:
Through Guararapes Airport.
By Road:
From Rio de Janeiro: BR-116, BR-101
From Brasilia: BR-020, BR-116, BR-101
From Salvador da Bahia: BR-101
Where to Stay:
There are many accommodation options, from simple guest houses to luxurious and sophisticated hotels...
- Sheraton Recife:
Av. Bernardo Vieira de Melo, 1624 - Praia de Piedade - Internacional Palace Lucsim:
Av. Boa Viagem, 3722 - Praia da Boa Viagem - Arcada:
Av. Conselheiro Aguiar, 3500 - Boa Viagem - Jangadeiro:
Av. Boa Viagem, 3114 - Praia de Boa Viagem - Pousada Águas Mornas:
Rua dos Navegantes, 2661 - Boa Viagem
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