Recife
Capital of Pernambuco, major port and historical hub.
Recife is the state capital of Pernambuco, Brazil, located on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is the largest urban area within both the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, and the fourth-largest urban area in the country.
- Country
- Brazil
- State
- Pernambuco
Lore & Background
The city's name comes from the stone reef (recife) parallel to the shoreline that encloses its harbor.
Reader's Guide
Recife is a major seaport and industrial hub, with products including sugar, ethanol, motor vehicles, ships, oil platforms, electronics, and software. The city is Brazil's second-largest medical hub, after São Paulo. Recife is a major tourist destination, known for its beaches, historical sites from Portuguese and Dutch colonial periods, and proximity to Porto de Galinhas beach and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Olinda.
Did You Know?
- Recife is known as the 'Venice of Brazil' due to its rivers, islands, and over 50 bridges.
- The city was called Mauritsstad when it served as the capital of Dutch Brazil in the 17th century.
- Recife has the highest consumption of whisky in the world, according to The Herald.
- The beach of Porto de Galinhas, 60 km south, has been repeatedly awarded the best beach in Brazil.
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