Pernambuco is a Brazilian state, which reaches from central Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean. More than 8.5 Million People are residing in Pernambuco. Much of them are of Portuguese descent. The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Pernambuco state comprises an area of approx 99.000 square kilometres. It attracts every year millions of tourists. Nearly 40 percent of them come from Europe and almost 14 percent from the United States. Most of the Tourists come from neighbouring South American countries, mainly from Argentina.
Three things fascinate the visitors of Pernambuco: The historic towns, the Atlantic coast, which is a diving paradise, and the impressing landscape of the ancient plateau, which has been worn down by rivers, leaving so called chapadas (ranges of mountains with flat-topped ridges). The rivers, coming from the plateau, flow southward to the São Francisco River. This stream collects the water of the mountains and flows eastward to the Atlantic Ocean by forming a canyon through the mountains. The name Pernambuco descends from the Indian words Para' nã (pacifically flowing river) and Pu' ka (to force through).
Pernambuco was settled by Portuguese conquerors in the 16th century. That's the reason why the state has many impressing ancient European buildings, which have been preserved till this day. There are diving bases on the shores of Pernambuco, where you can dive for boats, lost in the sea long ago. The capital of Pernambuco state is Recife. It was founded by the Portuguese in the early 16th century. It lies on the Atlantic coast and has been called the Venice of Brazil. Furthermore Recife always has been a place of progress in economics and science. It is a educational and cultural centre with a number of universities and theatres.
There are lots of sights and points of interest in and around Recife. All of them are reachable by bus. Nearly 95 percent of the people, residing in Brazil, use buses for all their ways. Therefore there is less smog in this country than in other Latin American countries. Recife is the right place for visitors, which are interested in history and culture as well as in sports and sunny beaches. The beaches of Porto de Galinhas are the finest of Pernambuco. They are located 40 miles away from Recife. At low tide jangada boats take people to the reefs. Besides the several beaches nearby the capital of Pernambuco belong many ancient churches in Recife to the favourite destinations of the visitors. Each district of the capital has a lot of sights.
The Boa Vista district of Recife is situated on the left bank of the Rio Capibaribe. Here is the church Igreja Matriz of Boa Vista, build in the 18th century. It is to find in the street Rua da Imperatriz. In the street Rua do Hospício in Boa Vista you can find the Archaeological and Geographical Museum of Pernambuco.
The Capela Jaqueira, also called church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, was build in 1766 on the countryside nearby Recife. Later the city swallowed this place and nowadays the church is located in Recife. It has a high altar which is painted and gilded. The walls are highlighted with azulejos, a special kind of a glossy metal decoration which has been imported to Brazil by the Portuguese.
One of the most beautiful chapels of Recife is the Capela Dourada, also called Golden Chapel. It was build in the 18th century. Its interior has the finest carvings of Pernambuco. They are made of palisander as well as of cedar wood and carefully gilded. The walls and the ceiling of the chapel are decorated with secular and religious paintings. The Museum of Sacret Art is connected to this chapel.
One of the numerous old forts of Pernambuco you can find on the coast road of Recife. This fort, named Fort Brum, was build by the Dutch in 1629. Now it accommodates a military museum.
A bridge connects Recife with Santo Antonio, an island in the Atlantic Ocean. This district of Recife is known for its notable buildings. One of them is the church of "Nossa Senhora do Carmo" a baroque building with several renaissance features.
Besides Recife there are a number of other cities and sites worth to visit. 39 kilometres north of Recife lies Igaraçu, one of the oldest settlements of Brazil. It was an important post station before Olinda was founded. Olinda is a historic town, seven kilometres north of Recife. It was founded in 1537. The town was a centre of sugar-cane growing and has lots of notable colonial buildings. Upcountry, 134 west of Recife, lies the town Caruaru. It is known for its potteries and is one of the most important craft centres of South America. You can go there on the road BR 32, which traverses Pernambuco completely.
