24 hours in Recife - Pernambuco

I wish I had more time there. Anyway, the first thing I recommend is to go to Marco Zero, downtown in Recife Antigo (old town) and take a catamarã trip. It costs R$ 30,00 per person and there is a really good guide (not a tape recorder) who gives you enough information about the town. The owner, Lydia Silva, always travels along. E-mail her for more information atendimento@catamaraveneza.com.br . Her boat is right in front of the Artesanato do Recife (the building below). 

Artesanato do Recife

 The trip goes under the old city bridges which fortunately were all lit with Christmas lights. The pretty building below is the Assembléia Legislativa de Pernambuco.

Recife by night

 Some of the lights. The guide was so useful! She told us about the history of the many buildings, legends, and facts.

Bridges in Recife

 This place deserves a special post. Inside, handcraft from all over the state. Nice restored depot, air conditioner, beautiful display. Right in front of the Marco Zero.

Artesanato de Pernambuco, Recife

 Francisco Brennand's Sculpture Park. You have to take a small boat to get there. Only R$ 5,00 back and forth. Take note of the boatman's cell phone.

Francisco Brennand's Sculpture Park

 The Brennand family is very respected and loved in Recife. If you have more time there, don't miss the visit to the amazing Oficina Brennand and Instituto Ricardo Brennand. It was not open while I was there. 

 While in this sculpture park, go until the end of the reefs and you will find a restaurant called Casa De Banhos. It is very simple but the seafood is great. Many years ago, there were natural swimming pools here and the place was frequented by the local society. At night, however, a very lively "redlight" restaurant became too famous for the jealous wives of the rich men. It is said that they set fire on it. You can still see the ruins of the old restaurant.

Casa de Banhos, Recife

 After you eat you call the boatman to pick you up.

 The Mercado de São José is the oldest prefabricated iron building in Brazil. It was exported from Europe to Recife in the late nineteenth century.

Mercado de São José, Recife

 Outside the Market, live crabs (caranguejo) with tied-up paws and all kinds of herbs and amulets.

Mercado de São José, Recife

 One of many Recife's specialties is the "bolo de rolo", a rolled cake filled with "goiabada". They last longer than the usual cake. Cut it in very thin slices. 

Mercado de São José, Recife, Pernambuco

The Mercado is the best place to buy handcraft. There is a great choice and the prices are really fifty percent cheaper. 

Mercado de São José, Recife, Pernambuco

Espaço Cultural Pátio de São Pedro, a place for cultural events, history and gastronomy. Every Tuesday night, a Terça Negra, with music and afro dance. The church is São Pedro dos Clérigos. Its structure was built from the stones of the reefs from the sea. You can still see some shells in their composition. Usually, the churches have a cross-format but this one is octogonal. Inside, the ceiling was painted by João de Deus Sepúlveda, known as the “Michelangelo pernambucano”. The balconies are covered with gold and the doors are made of Brazilian rosewood (jacarandá). The image of Saint Peter on the altar is human size and his teeth are made of ivory. 

Espaço Cultural Pátio de São Pedro, Recife

 Also in this patio:  Museu de Arte Popular (MAP), Memorial Luiz Gonzaga; Memorial Chico Science and Museu de Arte Moderna Aloísio Magalhães (Mamam). 

Casa da Cultura. This French building used to be a jail. Its 150 prison cells house now nice handcraft shops. It also holds the Museu do Frevo e a Fundação de Desenvolvimento da Cultura Negra.

Casa da Cultura, Recife

 The iron structure is very impressive. The public phones: the umbrella is typical of the "frevo" dance and the hat is typical from the "cangaceiros", a too-long story to tell here.

Casa da Cultura, Recife

 Dinner time at Entre Amigos". Their specialty is the goat. I am not very fond of it but it tasted really nice. I had this one with passionfruit sauce. Try the caipirinhas, there are many different local fruits.

Restaurante Entre Amigos, Recife

If you have another day, go to Olinda, a cute nearby town. Again, I am sorry about my English but I just think there is not enough reading material about Brazil for tourists.