Legislative Assembly An artist rendition of an evening in Recife Angra dos Reis @Maranhoes

Economy History Beaches Porto de Galinhas: “Port of

Chickens”
According to 2007 IBGE statistics, the GDP The area around Recife was one of the first • Viagem, Pina and Brasilia Teimosa
The origin of the name is well known. Porto
was estimated at R$ 20.7 billion (Brazil- in Brazil to be settled by the Portuguese • Jaboatão beaches
de Galinhas means "Port of Chickens" in
ian Reais), not counting agricultural activi- Crown. In 1537, John III of Portugal divided • Piedade, Candeias and Barra
Portuguese. In the second half of the 19th
ties. Manufacturing represented 17.4% and Brazil into Hereditary Captaincies (Capitanias • Olinda beaches
century, the Brazilian government imposed
the sector of the commerce and service Hereditárias, in Portuguese); the Portuguese • Rio Doce and Casa Caiada
restrictions to the commerce of slaves. To
82.53%. In 2006, IBGE estimates indicate realized that they had no human or financial • South beaches
circumvent the prohibition, the "black ships"
that the GDP just of the city had grown to resources to invest in such a large and dis- • Gaibu, Calhetas, Itapuama
(which transported slaves from Africa to
R$ 18.3 billion. tant colony, and decided to assign this task • Pedra Xaréu
Brazil) looked for other places to harbor, far
Recife is one of Brazil’s prime business cen- to private entrepreneurs, called Donatários • Cabo, Enseada dos Corais
from Recife. When a ship arrived in town,
ters, largely because it has one International (this system had already been successful in • Cabo de Santo Agostinho RMR
as it was prohibited to mention slavery, the
Airport and two International ports. One is the settlement of the Portuguese colonies in • Porto De Galinhas, Muro Alto
word spread as "there are new chickens in
located in the town itself, and the other, the Africa). Because of several problems, most • Maracaipe
the port"; hence, the place gained its name
port of Suape, is located about 40 kilometres Captaincies failed. One of the few to prosper • Serrambi, Toquinho, Gamboa
Porto de Galinhas.
(25 mi) away. where industries are found. was the Captaincy of Pernambuco. • Barra de Sirinhaém
 Not to be missed: Recife Antigo Main Tourist Attractions
Recife Antigo (Old Recife) is the historical
• Churches, historical monuments,
section of downtown Recife. It is located on
public markets including 17th and 18th
the Island of Recife, near the Recife harbor.
century constructions from Portuguese
This historic area has been recently recov-
and Dutch colonisers
ered and now holds several clubs, bars and
• Francisco Brennand’s atelier of
a high-tech center called Porto Digital.
ceramic art
Porto Digital is a business environment for Boa Viagem beach
• Ricardo Brennand Institute: cul-
IT companies in Recife Antigo. More than Recife is the fourth-largest metropolitan
tural institute with museum, pinacotec
90 IT companies and over 3,000 workers area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants,
and library
have rejuvenated the harbor with a new the largest metropolitan area of the North/
• Recife Antigo (Old Recife) build-
digital economy. Northeast Regions, the 4th-largest met-
Recife Antigo ings
ropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the
• Boa Viagem beach (the inside
capital of the state of Pernambuco.
city’s most important beach) and many
Demographics
beautiful beaches in the metropolitan and
The population of the city proper was
state area
1,561,659 in 2009. It is a major port on the
• Casa da Cultura: souvenir shops
Atlantic Ocean. The name Recife means
in an Historic prison building
“reef” in Portuguese, in allusion to the coral
• The Carnival at locations such as
reefs that are present by the city’s shores.
downtown and Recife Antigo
The many rivers, small islands and over 50
• Olinda’s historic town centre, con-
bridges found in Recife city.
sidered a world heritage site