Recife - Pernambuco

It is located at:

125 kilometres from Joao Pessoa
288 kilometres from Natal
799 kilometres from Fortaleza
842 kilometres from Salvador
2357 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro
2643 kilometres from Sao Paulo

Recife is the capital of Pernambuco. It is a modern city enclosed by high buildings and ample avenues. The city is crossed by two rivers: Beberibe and Capibaribe, which pass through some colonial edifications.

Recife is also called "The Venice of Brazil" thanks to the channels and bridges located over the rivers.

This city presents some coincidences with Amsterdam. In the époque of the Dutch domain, Recife was the government see from 1630 to 1653.

The colonial part of the city, established in the middles of The XVI and XVIIII Centuries, is considered a historic patrimony, a legacy from Portuguese and Dutch conquers.

The street carnival of Recife is popular all along the country. The party endures three days and combines different traditional rhythms and dances.

The tourist infrastructure is excellent. The beach of Boa Viagem is well known because of its calm water.

Actually, the major attractions of Recife are its beautiful beaches. Among them, the most important is Boa Viagem.

Boa Viagem. 7 kilometres long. There is a modern avenue along the coast. This beach contains natural pools with blue water, such pools are placed in between the sand and the reeves. This is a family beach, ideal for bathing.

For those who love diving, the city has different areas to practice it and the city offers, as well, diverse excursions and trips through natural pools along the coast and a marine park which contains 30 sunk ships.

Among the most popular sites for diving, it is possible to mention:

* Arenero Sao Martín. A ship that lies in the exit of the port of Recife, 12 meters deep.

* Pirapama. A ship that lies 6 miles from the port, 23 meters deep.

* Vapor 48. A ship inhabited by diverse marine species, 48 meters deep.

* Alfama de Lisboa. A Portuguese Galleon, 10 meters deep.

* B 18. A crashed plane.

* Vapor Bahía. A ship that lies 12 miles from The Itamaracá Island, 26 meters deep, also inhabited by various marine species.

* Vapor Florida. An English ship sunk in 1910, 31 meters deep. It is situated 12 miles from the port of Recife.


The Carnival of Recife

This popular celebration concentrates thousands of tourists every year. The party begins a week before the official date. Balconies placed over the cars traverse the streets and the beach of Boa Viagem.

On Friday, residents go to the streets to dance, have fun and assist to different presentations of traditional dances like maracatu, ciranda, afoxé, reggae and manguebeat.

The main date is on Saturday, when almost a million people dance in company of a musical group Galo da Madrugada. Finally, on Monday, The Night of the Silent Drums is celebrated in the zone of The Patio del Tercio.

The Neighbourhood of Recife

In this area, the actual Recife was born, under the name of "Ancient Recife". This is the old structure of the city, a historical place. There, some interesting places to visit are the centenary constructions which possess an incredible historic value.

Is interesting to visit:

Sinagoga Kahal Zur Israel. (Siglo XVII).
Torre Malakoff. (Siglo XIX).
Fuerte de Brum. (1630).
Basilic and Convent N.S do Carmo
Capilla Dorada
Cathedral of Sao Pedro dos Clérigos. (1782).
Church of N.S do Rosario dos Homens Pretos
Museum del Hombre del Nordeste
Institute Ricardo Brennand
Museum of the City
Foundation Gilberto Freyre