Recife

Photo: Praia de Boa Viagem (Good Trip Beach), Recife. Credit: Embratur.

Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, has not been built by the Portuguese, who preferred the hills and built Olinda (today a World Heritage Site), leaving the swamp islands down below.

The present spot where Recife sits used to be a fishermen village when the Dutch invaded Pernambuco in 1630. The count Maurício de Nassau ordered for the drainage and the construction of dikes at the islands downstream the Capibaribe River.

Santo Antônio, Boa Vista and Old Recife islands were interconnected and to the continent by means of an intricate bridge system, most of which still exist to date. This first urban planning activity from the Dutch has formed the basis of the present center of the city.

Thanks to the rich cultural diversity and the well developed infrastructure, Recife was chosen as one of the host cities of the World Cup 2014. A brand new stadium, called Arena Capibaribe, is being built from scratch, and will be one of the most modern Sports and Entertainment Complexes in Brazil.

Read more about World Cup in Recife and World Cup in Brazil.