8°06S 34°53W, pop (2000e) 1 586 000. Port capital of Pernambuco state, NE Brazil, at the mouth of the R Capibaribe; consists of Recife proper (on a peninsula), Boa Vista (on the mainland), and Santo António (on an island between the two), all connected by bridges; most important commercial and industrial city in the NE; airport (Guararapes); two universities (1951, 1954); sugar, sugar refining, cotton, distilling, tourism; location of first Brazilian printing house, 1706; São Francisco de Assis Church (1612), Church of Conceição dos Militares (1708), Church of Nossa Senhora das Prazeres (1656), Forte do Brum (1629), Cinco Pontas (fort, built by Dutch 1630, altered by Portuguese 1677), Casa da Cultura (old prison), Museu do Açúcar (Sugar Museum).
For the graphic designer, see Eduardo Recife.| Recife | |||||
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| Nickname: "Veneza Brasileira (Brazilian Venice) and Mauricéia (after the Dutch colonization)" | |||||
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Motto: Ut luceat omnibus" Latin: "That it may shine on all" (Matthew 5:15) |
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| Location in Brazil | |||||
| Founded | March 12, 1537 | ||||
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| Incorporated (as village) | 1709 | ||||
| Incorporated (as city) | 1823 | ||||
| Mayor | João Paulo Lima e Silva (PT) | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - City | 218 km² (84.17 sq mi) | ||||
| - Metro | 2,768 km² (1,068.7 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - City (2005) | 1,501,008 | ||||
| - Density | 6,885.3/km² (17,833/sq mi) | ||||
| - Metro | 3,599,181 | ||||
| - Metro Density | 1,301/km² (3,367.8/sq mi) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-3 (UTC-3) | ||||
| Website: http://www.recife.pe.gov.br | |||||
Recife (Portuguese for reef), 2005 population 1,501,000 (3,599,181 in the metropolitan area) is the third largest city in the Northeastern Region of Brazil and the largest metropolitan area.
Recife is the birthplace of poets and writers Manuel Bandeira, Carlos Pena Filho, Saulo Moreira, Sebastião Uchoa Leite, Nelson Rodrigues, Gilberto Freyre, Paulo Freire and João Cabral de Melo Neto;
History
The area around Recife was one of the first in Brazil to be settled by the Portuguese Crown.
Alone, this mixture of Portuguese, Indians and black slaves would be enough to make Recife one of the most culturally diverse cities in Brazil. During this period, the first synagogue of the Americas was founded in the city, and for this brief time Recife became one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world.
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.
Photos
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Boa Viagem's beachline. |
Geography
Recife is located in the so called Litoral zone (Seashore Zone) of Pernambuco, an area a few tens of kilometers wide adjoining the coast.
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 AntigoThere are many 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)Local Music
Frevo Maracatu Forró Manguebeat Baião XaxadoMain Neighborhoods
Torre Ipsep Boa Viagem Boa Vista Bongi Brasília Teimosa Cidade Universitária Cordeiro Aflitos Casa Forte Derby Tamarineira Espinheiro Graças Ibura Ilha do Leite Iputinga Pina Recife Antigo Santo Amaro Santo Antônio Setúbal Várzea Beberibe Casa Amarela Afogados Imbiribeira Muribeca EstânciaSports
Recife provides visitors and residents with various sport activities.
Crime
Recife is known nation-wide for being the most dangerous major city in the country.
Shark Attacks
In recent years, the number of shark attacks on the beaches of Recife has dramatically increased.
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