Recife
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What is Recife and where is it located?
Recife is the capital city of Pernambuco state in northeastern Brazil. The city is an Atlantic seaport situated where the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers meet. Recife is known as the Venice of Brazil because it features numerous waterways and bridges.
Pernambuco's coastline extends 116 miles (187 km) and is located near the eastern tip of the South American coastline as it bulges into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Why is Recife sometimes called the 'Venice of Brazil'?
Recife is called the "Venice of Brazil" because the city is crossed by waterways, with its various sections connected by numerous bridges. Recife is the capital of Pernambuco estado (state) in northeastern Brazil. It is an Atlantic seaport located where the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers meet.
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What are some important historical facts about Recife?
Recife, the capital of Pernambuco state in northeastern Brazil, is a significant Atlantic seaport at the confluence of the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers. Often called the "Venice of Brazil," the city is known for its numerous waterways and bridges.
Key historical facts:
* Recife was initially an anchorage for wealthy Portuguese colonists in Olinda, handling sugar exports and imports in the 16th century.
* The Dutch captured Recife in 1630 and governed it for 24 years, during which the town prospered.
* In 1710, the War of the Mascates occurred when Recife's tradesmen fought to organize their own municipality.
* Recife became the official capital of the province of Pernambuco in 1827.
* Post 1960, Recife shared in northeastern Brazil's prosperity due to development promoted by Sudene.3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What makes Recife's beaches and rivers unique?
Recife, also known as the "Venice of Brazil," has a unique environment due to its location at the confluence of the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers. This city is distinguished by its numerous waterways and bridges. In addition, Recife's Boa Viagem beaches attract many tourists. The Capibaribe River rises in the Cariris Velhos mountain range and flows east for 150 miles to the Atlantic Ocean at Recife.
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How does Recife celebrate its culture through festivals or traditions?
Recife celebrates its culture through various vibrant festivals and traditions. The city's cultural composition is reflected in folklore festivals such as the typically African XangĂŽ. Carnival time in Recife is vibrant, featuring the compulsive music of the forrĂł, an emotionally and physically demanding dance. Other popular entertainments include the fandango dance, the bumba-meu-boi (a pageant with dancing), the pastoris (open-air plays), and the lapinhas (Nativity scenes). Recife shares in the tradition of Carnival in Brazil, a combination of a Roman Catholic festival with lively celebrations of people of African ancestry.
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What is the economic and cultural importance of Recife in Brazil today?
Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, Brazil, is a significant economic and cultural hub. Economically, it benefits from wholesale and retail trade, supported by major banks and international companies. Recife's port is one of Brazilâs most important due to its location and convergence of railways and roads.
Culturally, Recife is home to institutions of higher learning and research, such as the Federal University of Pernambuco, and boasts museums, historic churches, and theaters. The city is known as the northeastâs leading football center and hosts folklore festivals that reflect the areaâs African-influenced culture.
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Recife, city, capital of Pernambuco estado (state), northeastern Brazil, and centre of an area that includes several industrial towns. It is an Atlantic seaport located at the confluence of the Capibaribe and Beberibe rivers. Recife has been called the Venice of Brazil because the city is crossed by waterways and its component parts are linked by numerous bridges.
In the second quarter of the 16th century wealthy Portuguese colonists of the captaincy of Pernambuco lived in splendour at Olinda, just to the north. Recife was then merely an anchorage that handled their exports of sugar and their imports. It was raided by French pirates in 1561 and by the English in 1595. In 1630 it was captured by the Dutch, who held it for 24 years. The town prospered under the governorship of Count John Maurice of Nassau. In 1710 the inhabitants revolted against the magnates of Olinda in what is now called the War of the Mascates (i.e., peddlers) because the small tradesmen of Recife tried to organize a municipality of their own. In 1827 Recife became the official capital of the province of Pernambuco.
Recife has shared in the prosperity of northeastern Brazil that resulted from development promoted after 1960 by Sudene (SuperintendĂȘncia para o Desenvolvimento do Nordeste), a federal organization. Although its retail and wholesale trade have grown in response to the regionâs increases in population and wealth, the market area and the walkways of the cityâs bridges are crowded with vendors selling small items. Branches of the major banks of Rio de Janeiro, SĂŁo Paulo, and Minas Gerais state do considerable business in Recife, and there also are U.S., French, and Italian concerns.
Railroads, highways, airlines, and shipping connect Recife with other parts of Brazil. Guararapes Airport serves international and domestic flights. Transportation within the city is chiefly provided by bus, trolley, and subway.
Institutions of higher learning in Recife include the Federal University of Pernambuco (founded 1946), the Federal Rural (Agricultural) University of Pernambuco (1954), the Catholic University of Pernambuco (1951), and the numerous research institutes attached to them. The independent Joaquim Nabuco Institute of social researches, which is distinguished for its anthropological studies, is also located there. Besides the State Museum, there are museums of sugarcane and of popular art. There are many historic churches and public buildings, including the Governorâs Palace and the Santa Isabel Theatre. The beaches of Boa Viagem, on the cityâs south side, attract large numbers of tourists. Recife is home to three major stadiums, reflecting its standing as the northeastâs leading football (soccer) centre.
Recife has a symphony orchestra, a conservatory of music, and several theatrical companies, including the nationally renowned Pernambuco Amateur Theatre and the Popular Theatre of the Northeast. Reflecting the areaâs distinctive cultural composition are the folklore festivals: the XangĂŽ is typically African, while Carnival time is vibrant with the compulsive music of the forrĂł, an emotionally and physically exacting dance. Other popular entertainments include the fandango dance, the bumba-meu-boi (a pageant with dancing), the pastoris (open-air plays), and the lapinhas (Nativity scenes). Pop. (2022) 1,494,586; metro. area, 3,690,547.