Holiday in Recife

What makes Recife special as a destination?

Recife is the capital of the state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil and is often referred to as the Venice of Brazil — the city is built on islands and peninsulas, crisscrossed by rivers and connected by dozens of bridges. With around 1.6 million inhabitants, Recife is the economic and cultural center of northeastern Brazil. The historic district of Recife Antigo (Old Recife) on an island in the harbor preserves magnificent colonial architecture from the 17th century, when the Dutch occupied the city and made it the most important port of the New World. Rua do Bom Jesus was once the street of the first synagogue in the Americas (Kahal Zur Israel, 1636) and is now a vibrant nightlife area. Just 7 km to the north lies Olinda, one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Brazil and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982: Baroque churches, pastel-colored houses, artist studios, and a hill with panoramic views of the coast make Olinda a total work of art. The Carnival of Olinda is the largest street carnival in Brazil — featuring giant puppets (Bonecos Gigantes), Frevo music, and Maracatu rhythms. Frevo, an energetic music style with acrobatic dance and colorful umbrellas, was born in Recife and has been an intangible UNESCO cultural heritage since 2012. Maracatu, a rhythm with African roots from the time of slavery, is the soul of Pernambuco. The beaches of Boa Viagem stretch over 7 km along the city, protected by a natural reef that forms natural pools at low tide. Porto de Galinhas, about 60 km to the south, is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil with its turquoise natural pools and coral reefs.