Recife
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| Recife | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
| The Municipality of Recife | |||
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| Nickname(s): Veneza Brasileira (Brazilian Venice) and Mauricéia/Mauritzstad (after the Dutch colonization) | |||
| Motto: Lucea Omnibus" Latin: "That it may shine on all" (Matthew 5:15) |
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| Country |  Brazil |
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| Region | Northeast | ||
| State |  Pernambuco |
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| Founded | March 12, 1537 | ||
| Incorporated (as village) | 1709 | ||
| Incorporated (as city) | 1823 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | João Paulo Lima e Silva (PT) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Municipality | 218 km² (84.17 sq mi) | ||
| - Metro | 2,768 km² (1,068.7 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) | ||
| Population (2007) | |||
| - Municipality | 1,710,980 (9th) | ||
| - Density | 6,885.3/km² (34,833/sq mi) | ||
| - Metro | 4,650,204 | ||
| - Metro Density | 2,601/km² (6,667.8/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-3 (UTC-3) | ||
| HDI (2000) | 0.797 – medium | ||
| Website: Recife, Pernambuco | |||
Recife (pronunciation IPA: [heˈsifi]) is the fifth largest Metropolitan area in Brazil and the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The population was 1,549,980[1] in 2007. Recife is located where the Beberibe River meets the Capibaribe River to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. It is a major port on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Recife means "reef" in Portuguese, in allusion to the coral reefs that are present by the city's shores. The many rivers and bridges found in Recife characterize its geography and gives it the moniker of the "Brazilian Venice".
The Metropolitan Region of Recife is the main industrial zone of the State of Pernambuco; most relevant products are those derived from cane (sugar and ethanol), electronics, food, and others; thanks to the fiscal incentives of government, many industrial enterprises were started in the 1970s and 1980s. Recife has a tradition of being the most important commercial center of Northeastern Brazil.
A combination of a large supply of labor and significant private investments turned Recife into Brazil's second largest medical center, (second only to São Paulo);[2] modern hospitals with state-of-the-art equipments receive patients from several neighboring States.[3][4] Like all other cities in Northeast, Recife is developing its tourist sector. The beach of Porto de Galinhas, 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the city, has been repeatedly awarded the title of best beach in Brazil and has drawn many tourists.[5] Recife's infrastructure is among the most developed in Brazil for travellers and businessmen, though there is wide room for improvement.[6]
The city is also a renowned educational center, and home to the Federal University of Pernambuco, the largest university in Pernambuco. Several Brazilian historical figures, such as the poet and abolitionist Castro Alves, moved to Recife to attain their education, though in recent years, the quality of education in Recife has lagged relative to its neighboring cities.
Recife is served by the Gilberto Freyre/Guararapes International Airport which connects Recife to several Brazilian desinations as well as major international cities in Europe (direct service to the United States cities will resume in November 2008).
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[edit] Geography
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Due to the city's proximity to the equator, Recife weather is generally warm. Recife has a number of islands, rivers, waterways and bridges that crisscross the city. Recife is located amidst tropical forests which are distinguished by high rainfall levels resulting in poor soil quality as the rainfall washes away the nutrients. The absence of extreme temperatures and the cool breeze due to the trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean.[7]
[edit] Climate
Recife has a year-round tropical climate, with warm to hot temperatures and high relative humidity throughout the year. However, these conditions are relieved by a near absence of extreme temperatures and pleasant trade winds blowing from the ocean. January is the warmest month, with mean temperatures ranging from 32 °C (90 °F) to 26 °C (79 °F), with sun; July experiences the coolest temperatures, with mean temperatures ranging from 29 °C (84 °F) to 23 °C (73 °F), with rain.
[edit] Vegetation
Recife has a tropical forest. Rainforests are characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 2,000 millimetres (79 in) and 1,700 millimetres (67 in). The soil can be poor because high rainfall tends to leach out soluble nutrients. There are several common characteristics of tropical rainforest trees. Tropical rainforest species frequently possess one or more attributes not commonly seen in trees of higher latitudes or trees in drier conditions on the same latitude. The heart of Recife is formed by three islands (Recife, Santo Antônio, and Boa Vista).[8] Between the islands are the rivers Beberibe and Capibaribe.[9]
[edit] History
The area around Recife was one of the first in Brazil to be settled by the Portuguese Crown. In 1537, John III of Portugal divided Brazil into Hereditary Captaincies (Capitanias Hereditárias, in Portuguese); the Portuguese realized that they had no human or financial resources to invest in such a large and distant colony, and decided to assign this task to private entrepreneurs, called Donatários (this system had already been successful in the settlement of the Portuguese colonies in Africa).
Because of several problems (the most obvious being the lack of support from the Portuguese metropolis), most Captaincies failed. One of the few to prosper was the Captaincy of Pernambuco, which was assigned to Duarte Coelho Pereira (the man who founded Olinda and became famous for expressing his enchantment with the beauty of the place, giving the name to the city).
Pernambuco prospered from the sugarcane industry (beet sugar was not industrially produced in Europe until the beginning of the 19th century). At the time, in Europe, sugarcane plantations could be grown only in Andalusia and the Algarve; in the 1420s, sugarcane was carried to the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores; the sugar from Brazil was very appreciated in Europe. Duarte Coelho found in Pernambuco plenty of fertile land and an excellent climate for the cultivation of cane; all he needed was labor to work in the crops and to keep the "engenhos" (rustic wooden machinery) moving.
At first, the Portuguese tried to use the indigenous peoples of Brazil, but they soon realized that the indigenous culture was not compatible with the work in the engenhos. The solution was to import black slaves from Africa; from the 16th to the 19th century, Pernambuco received many slaves, making it one of the Brazilian States where black culture has the most visible traces (in dance, music, culinary, etc).
Alone, this mixture of Portuguese, Indians and black slaves would be enough to make Recife one of the most culturally diverse cities in Brazil. The Dutch added to the mix. From 1580 to 1640, the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal were unified under the rule of the former. Spain was engaged in a war against the Netherlands, and determined that the Dutch, who were the main distributors of Brazilian sugar in Europe, would be prohibited from coming to Brazil.
The Dutch decided to invade several sugar producing cities in Brazil, including Salvador and Natal. From 1630 to 1654, they took control of Recife and Olinda. During this period, Recife became one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world. The first Jewish community and the first synagogue in the Americas was founded in the city.[10]
The inhabitants fought on their own to expel the Dutch, being helped by the involvement of the Dutch in the First Anglo-Dutch War. This was known as the Insurreição Pernambucana (Pernambucan Insurrection). Most of the Jews fled to Amsterdam; others fled to North America, starting the first Jewish community of New Amsterdam (now known as New York City).
During the 18th century, riots spread throughout the city, in which the rich farmers of Olinda and the traders from Recife clashed. Recife had a clear advantage in relation to Olinda: Olinda has no harbour, while Recife's Harbor is one of the largest on the Atlantic. Recife's victory asserted the supremacy of its bourgeoisie over the decadent sugar aristocrats of Olinda. This was a decisive factor for Recife's growth. Recife is now a large city whereas Olinda is a small historical town. Recife is a historical city, distinguished by the opulence of its colonial buildings, with its colonization rooted in different nations; Portugal, the Netherlands, France, England.
[edit] Demographics
According to the IBGE of 2007, there were 3,655,000 people residing in the Metropolitan Region of Recife. The population density was 6,422 inhabitants per square kilometre (16,630 /sq mi). The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 2,072,385 Pardo (Brown) people (56.7%), 1,308,490 White people (35.8%), 255,000 Black people (7.0%), 21,000 Asian or Amerindian people (0.6%).[11]
The Metropolitan Region of Recife is the 5th most populous of Brazil, after São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Porto Alegre. The city is the 9th most populous of the contry. The most populous neighborhoods of Recife are Boa Viagem (100,388), Casa Amarela (69,134), and Várzea (64,512).[12]
[edit] Religion
| Religion | Percentage | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 68.02% | 976,807 |
| Protestant | 23.78% | 358,564 |
| No religion | 5.1% | 87,910 |
| Spiritist | 1.53% | 30,782 |
[edit] Economy
According to 1996 IPEA statistics, the GDP was estimated in R$ 8 billion (Brazilian Reais), discounting agrcultural activities. Manufacturing represented 16.5% and the sector of the commerce and service 83.4%. In 2005, IBGE estimates indicate that the GDP had grown to R$16 billion.
Recife is one of Brazil's prime business centers, largely because it has two ports. One is located in the town itself, and the other, the port of Suape, is located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) away. Just south of Recife is the region's main industrial area, where you can find the following industries: brewing and canning, automotive electronics, tube manufacturing, chocolate manufacturing, textiles, etc.[14]
Recife has shared in the prosperity of Northeastern Brazil that resulted from development promoted after 1960 by Sudene (Superintendência para o Desenvolvimento do Nordeste), a federal organization. Although its retail and wholesale trade have grown in response to the region's increases in population and wealth, the market area and the walkways of the city's bridges are crowded with vendors selling small items.
[edit] Information technology industry
Recife has an area dedicated to information technology called "Porto Digital" (Digital Port). It was founded in July 2000 and has since attracted major investments. Generating some R$10 billion (Brazilian Reais) a year,[15] it produces technology that is exported to Japan, China, among other countries. Software manufacturing is the main activity in the Porto Digital. The Porto Digital cluster comprises small and median companies, but multinationals like Motorola, Samsung, Dell and Sun Microsystems are also installed in Porto Digital. IBM and Microsoft transferred their regional headquarters to Recife. Major developments in the local cluster include web-based solutions as well as solutions in outsourcing, biometry, information security, IT infrastructure, mobility/wi-fi, distance education, and games. After six years of activity, Porto Digital has been expanded with new installations around Recife, other Brazilian states, and even foreign countries.
Porto Digital's startups can count on a ready pool of talent, courtesy of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), which boasts one of the best computer-science departments in all of Latin America.[16] The school began teaching programmers to use Sun Microsystems Inc.'s (SUNW) Java language in 1996, the year it was introduced. Professors at the school also teamed up to launch Centro de Estudos e Sistemas Avançados do Recife (C.E.S.A.R), a business incubator that has played a vital role in the birth of some 30 companies.[17]
[edit] Medical pool
The Metropolitan Region of Recife has the 2nd largest medical pool of Brazil, after São Paulo. Together they make up 417 hospitals and clinics. The medical pool offers a total of 8,200 beds and, according to the Union of the Hospitals of Pernambuco, recorded in 2000 an invoicing of 220 millions of reais. It is thanks to the pool that Pernambuco has access to more computed tomography devices than countries like Canada or France.[18]
A large portion of the modern hospitals which are included in the pool are located between the neighbourhoods of Derby and of the Ilha do Leite. The Hospital Real Português of Beneficência Portuguesa in Pernambuco, or "Hospital Português" (Portuguese Hospital) for short, is one of the most renowned hospitals in the country. Many people from neighbouring states go to Recife for treatment, as it has the largest and best medical facilities in the North-Northeast of Brazil.[19] Recife has three universities of medicine, 2 public, Federal University of Pernambuco and University of Pernambuco; and 1 private, Escola Pernambucana de Medicina FBV/IMIP (Medical School of Pernambuco).[18]
[edit] Shopping center
Shopping Center Recife, is the first Shopping Center in the North/Northeastern region was inaugurated in 1980 through the initiatives of two large groups of entrepreneurs: Ancar and Ecisa. After twenty-three years and three expansion projects, Shopping Center Recife transformed into one of the largest in Latin America, and the first mega-mall in Northeastern Brazil.[20] With a total area of nearly two million square feet, 70% of which is area constructed, the shopping has 465 stores, 10 movie theaters, 8 restaurants, 4 food service courts with 57 fast food mini-restaurants, and 5 thousand parking spaces in the parking garages. 90 thousand people per day circulate in its establishments, with 32 million, 400 thousand consumers per year passing through the facilities.[21]
Shopping Center Tacaruna. The first great center for purchases in the North/West zone of the Recife Metropolitan Region was initiated on April 29, 1997. With the intention of valorizing the cities of Recife, Olinda, and Paulista. The JCPM Group created Shopping Center Tacaruna, a mix of stores, services, and relaxation. There are 187 national and international commercial businesses, three anchor stores, a food court, and 8 movie theaters. These numbers will be growing since Tacaruna is currently undergoing an expansion project.[22]
Shopping Paço da Alfândega. The new center for shopping is divided into four levels: services, fashion, dining, and panoramic restaurants. Outside the building is the Cultural Bookstore, the largest in Brazil, with 26 thousand square feet. It also features the Convention and Business Center for the Recife wharf area with two parking areas (800 spaces), a garden, observatory, open air exhibit space, an area for fashion shows, a mini-convention center, bookstore, auditorium (300 seats), and 4 meeting rooms. Rather unique, the business hours are from midday until midnight.[23]
Plaza Shopping Casa Forte was inaugurated in November of 1998. Fashion and charm mark the style here, conquering the people of the city. It receives 12 thousand people daily, coming principally from the neighborhoods of Casa Forte, Espinheiro, Graças, Aflitos and Poço da Panela. The Plaza has a structure composed of more than 140 stores, kiosks, a food court, and area for relaxation.[24]
The GDP for the city was R$ 16,664,468,000 (2005).[25]
The per capita income for the city was R$ 11,102 (2005).[26]
[edit] Tourism and recreation
The celebrations, holidays and other events are numerous during the whole year. Thus the new year begins at the beach, Praia de Boa Viagem and in Old Recife. The carnival of Recife and Olinda begins already many weeks before in december with innumerable balls and removals, very recommandable. In the city, the carnival festivities begin in december, as locals begin preparing for the official Carnival, which starts the week before Ash Wednesday. The pre-Carnival parties usually consist of percussion groups practicing in local clubs, city streets and squares, and even Carnival balls. There are a variety of rhythms from different cultures. Carnival officially starts with the Galo da Madrugada, a party in Downtown Recife attracting many people from several States of Brazil, and other parts of the world.
Mercado de São José (Market of Saint Joseph), a building worth seeing of an old iron construction with a very popular market. In the Fort Cinco Pontes (Fort of Five Points) there is the museum, (Museu do Estado de Pernambuco). At the rectangular place Pátio de São Pedro are the Cathedral São Pedro (Cathedral Saint Peter) from the year 1782 and restored colonial houses with numerous restaurants, bistros and bars. In the quarter Bairro Santo Antônio (Saint Anthony Neighborhood), at the meeting of the rivers of Capibaribe and Beberibe, is the Praça da República (Place of the Republic) with the Teatro Santa Isabel (Theatre of Saint Isabel), with its neoclassic front worth seeing and the Law Courts, Palácio da Justiça (Palace of the Justice). Casa da Cultura (House of Culture), the old prison that has been converted into a cultural space and shopping center.
Built between 1835 and 1855, the Malakoff Tower, a monument in Tunisian style, used to be an observatory and now is a cultural center and a place for popular manifestations at Arsenal da Marinha Square. It1s been registered as a Historical Patrimony and was named after a similar monument on Crimeia peninsula, used as a defense center for Sebastopol. Nature has a special place in Dois Irmãos Park. It's 387 hectares of Atlantic Forest and 14 hectares of Zoobotanic Garden. There are also 600 wild animals, the Natural Science Museum and ecological trails.[27]
Among Recife's main tourist attractions are:
- Churches and historical monuments, including 17th and 18th century constructions from Portuguese and Dutch colonizers;
- Francisco Brennand's atelier of ceramic art;
- Ricardo Brennand Institute: cultural institute with museum, pinacotec and library;
- Ancient Recife buildings: Forte Orange (which is really located in Itamaracá island, some 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Recife);
- Boa Viagem Beach (the city's most important beach);
- Olinda (neighbor city), a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
- Casa da Cultura: souvenir shops in an ancient prison building;
- The Carnival at Recife Antigo.
There are many beaches close to Recife, such as:
- Porto de Galinhas, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (60 km (37 mi) to the south). The most popular nearby tourist destination. Attracts tourists from around the world and boasts a thriving tourism industry. High end hotels and restaurants compete with more popular options and lie within the budget of most travelers;
- Maracaípe, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (65 km (40 mi) to the south);
- Serrambi, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (70 km (43 mi) to the south);
- Tamandaré, Pernambuco (110 km (68 mi) to the south);
- Itamaracá, Pernambuco (40 km (25 mi) to the north).
[edit] Education
Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. But English and Spanish are part of the official high school curriculum. There are also international schools, such as the American School of Recife.
[edit] Educational institutions
Recife is home to several higher education institutions, notably several public-owned universities:
- Federal University of Pernambuco; UFPE (federal, free);
- Universidade Católica de Pernambuco; UNICAP (private, ran by the Catholic Church, paid);
- University of Pernambuco; UPE (state-owned, free);
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco; UFRPE (federal, oriented to agriculture, free);
- Faculdade Marista do Recife; FMR (private, ran by the Marist congregation, paid)
- Faculdade Maurício de Nassau; FMN (private, paid)
- Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Pernambuco; CEFET-PE (technological college, federal, free);
- Faculdade de Tecnologia de Pernambuco; FATEC-PE (technological college, state-owned, free).
- and many others.
[edit] Culture
Recife is one of the most cultural sites in Brazil, Cradle of Brazilian culture, and is the home of several artists, musicians and writers. It is also home to the frevo, a regional dance and music, typical in the carnival, and the Mangue Beat, a type of Brazilian rock with mixture of Maracatu, Ciranda, Rap and other music styles. During carnival, downtown Recife holds one of the most authentic and democratic celebrations: every year more than one million people opens the festivities of the Brazilian Carnival at the Galo da Madrugada.
[edit] Museum
The Museum of Pernambuco State (Museu do Estado de Pernambuco)
Housed in a 19th century mansion in Recife, capital of Pernambuco state, the "Museu do Estado de Pernambuco (MEPE)" dates back to 1929. From Masters who portrayed the Colonial period, as well as the Dutch invasion (1630) to 20th and 21st century, the museum is comprised by over 12 thousand art pieces which invites the visitor to a journey into the local history. Periodically the museum hosts the "Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Pernambuco" when emerging artists are selected to represent the new run of local professionals who will help to maintain and shape the new profile of the local art scenery.
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Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue
Kahal Zur Israel is the name of a synagogue in Recife. Which is the oldest in the Americas, dating back to the 17th Century. After being closed for many years it is now re-opened to Jews and their culture.
Francisco Brennand Ceramic Shop
Francisco Brennand, one of the most important names in contemporary sculptures in Brazil, displays his ceramic works in enormous open sheds, between monuments and gardens. It is set in an old brick factory that belonged to the sculptor’s family.
Northeastern Man Museum
The broad collection describes Pernambuco's culture starting from three main themes: the sugar-cane production cycle, the northeastern man's life style and the folkloric and religious manifestations.
Gilberto Freyre Foundation
The farm house, from the 18th century, was Gilberto Freyre's old residence. Artworks, arts and crafts, book collections and objects that belonged to the Pernambuco writer and sociologist are displayed there.
Ricardo Brennand Institute
Set up in a building that reproduces a medieval style, it has a collection of pieces from the Dutch domination period in Recife, as well as daggers and armors.
Recife City Museum
Set up in a room in Cinco Pontas Fort, it shows pictures, reproductions of old paintings and objects that describe Recife since the period of Dutch rule.
[edit] Cinema
Multiplex Tacaruna, Multiplex Recife, Multiplex Boa Vista, Cine Rosa e Silva, CineBox Guararapes, Cinema do Parque.
[edit] Cuisine
Recife cuisine is the cuisine of its region, Pernambuco, and the culinary influences of the area can be traced to a dynamic assortment of cultures: the Dutch, Spanish, Moors, Africans and Indians.[28] Many dishes come with a delicious coconut sauce, and feature corn, mandioc, fresh seafood, and native fruits. Grilled meats are also big here, especially goat and beef dishes.
[edit] Festa Junina (Saint John Festival)
Festa Junina was introduced to Northeastern Brazil by the Portuguese for whom St John's day (also celebrated as Midsummer Day in several European countries), on the 24th of June, is one of the oldest and most popular celebrations of the year. Differently, of course, from what happens on the European Midsummer Day. The festivities in Brazil do not take place during the summer solstice but during the tropical winter solstice. The festivities traditionally begin after the 12th of June, on the eve of St Anthony's day, and last until the 29th, which is Saint Peter's day. During these fifteen days, there are bonfires, fireworks, and folk dancing in the streets. Once exclusively a rural festivity, today, in Brazil, it is largely a city festival during which people joyfully and theatrically mimic peasant stereotypes and clichés in a spirit of joke and good time. Typical refreshments and dishes are served. It should be noted that, like during Carnival, these festivities involve costumes-wearing (in this case, peasant costumes), dancing, heavy drinking, and visual spectacles (fireworks display and folk dancing). Like what happens on Midsummer and St John's Day in Europe, bonfires are a central part of these festivities in Brazil.
[edit] Carnaval/Carnival
The four-day period before Lent leading up to Ash Wednesday is carnival time in Brazil. Rich and poor alike forget their cares as they party in the streets. Pernambuco has large Carnival celebrations, including the Frevo, typical Pernambuco music. Another famous carnaval music style from Pernambuco is Maracatu. The cities of Recife and Olinda hold the most authentic and democratic carnaval celebrations in Brazil. The largest carnaval in all of Brazil is Galo da Madrugada, which takes place in Downtown Recife in the Saturday of carnaval. Another famous event is the "Noite dos Tambores Silenciosos". Carnaval Recife's joyous Carnaval is nationally known and admired, attracting thousands of people every year. The party starts a week before the official date, with electric trios "shaking" the Boa Viagem Neighborhood. On Friday, people take to the streets to enjoy themselves to the sound of frevo and to dance with maracatu, ciranda, caboclinhos, afoxé, reggae and manguebeat (cultural movement created in Re