Recife, capital city of the State of Pernambuco, is one of the largest cities in Brazil (it's the 9th city by population, with over 1,500,000 inhabitants).. The Boa Viagem beach in Recife is one of the most famous urban beaches in Brazil. Visitors get enchanted by the sandy beaches with warm green waters and also by the complete infrastructure of hotels, restaurants and services which surrounds it. Looking for quieter beaches? The entire coastline of Pernambuco is dotted with beaches for all tastes, such as Maria Farinha, for nautic sports practioners, and Porto de Galinhas, elected by specialized magazines as the best beach in Brazil. The History of Recife and Pernambuco is unique. The contact between native Indians, black slaves and Portuguese settlers was very strong in Pernambuco, and left visible traces in the culture of the region; also visible is the legacy of the Dutch, who occupied the area for more than 20 years. This mixture of influences made the culture of Pernambuco to be one of the richest in Brazil. Porto de Galinhas is one of the most famous beaches in Brazil; according to magazines and travellers, it is THE best beach in Brazil.

Porto changed from a fishermen village to the playground of Brazil's richest and most famous to become, in recent years, a popular vacation spot for domestic travelers. The origin of the name is well known. Porto de Galinhas means "Port of Chickens" in Portuguese. In the second half of the 19th century, the Brazilian government imposed restrictions to the commerce of slaves, which were widely used as manpower in the sugarcane farms around Recife to circumvent the prohibition, the "black ships" (which transported slaves from Africa to Brazil) looked for other places to harbor, far from Recife. One such place was in the bays around Suape and Ipojuca, about 60 km to the South of Recife. When a ship arrived in town, as it was prohibited to mention slavery, the word spread as "there are new chickens in the port"; hence, the place gained its name Porto de Galinhas.

Wikipedia articles for Recife

• Recife
• Estádio dos Aflitos
• Suape port
• Estádio Ilha do Retiro
• Recife Brazil
• Recife Brazil Temple
• Boa Viagem, Recife
• Santa Isabel Theater
• Estádio do Arruda
• 1989 Copa América
• Recife Antigo
• Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue