Recife

Recife
Municipality of Recife
Skyline of Recife with Antônio Vaz Island and the bridges of the Historic Center
Rio Branco Square
Aurora Street
Joaquim Nabuco Palace
Flag of Recife
Coat of arms of Recife
Nickname(s): 
Veneza Brasileira (Brazilian Venice), Capital of the Northeast and Mauricéia/Mauritsstad (after the Dutch colonisation)
Motto(s): 
Latin: Ut Luceat Omnibus
That it may shine on all (Matthew 5:15)
Location in the state of Pernambuco
Location in the state of Pernambuco
Recife is located in Brazil
Recife
Recife
Recife is located in South America
Recife
Recife
Coordinates: 8°3′S 34°54′W / 8.050°S 34.900°W / -8.050; -34.900
Country Brazil
RegionNortheast
StatePernambuco
FoundedMarch 12, 1537
Incorporated (as village)1709
Incorporated (as city)1823
Government
 • MayorJoão Henrique Campos (PSB)
 • Vice MayorIsabella de Roldão (PT)
Area
 • Municipality218 km2 (84.17 sq mi)
 • Metro
2,768 km2 (1,068.7 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (33 ft)
Population
 (2020[1])
 • Municipality1,653,461 (9th)
 • Density7,133.2/km2 (18,537.9/sq mi)
 • Metro
3,743,854 (6th)
 • Metro density1,352.5/km2 (3,527/sq mi)
DemonymRecifense
GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)
 • Year2023
 • Total (Metro)$47.2 billion[2]
 • Per capita$11,300
Time zoneUTC-03:00 (BRT)
Postal code
50000-001 to 52999-999
Area code+55 81
HDI (2010)0.772 – high[3]
Websitewww.recife.pe.gov.br (in Portuguese)

Recife (Brazilian Portuguese: [ʁeˈsifi] ) is the state capital of Pernambuco, Brazil, on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is the largest urban area within both the North and the Northeast Region of Brazil. It is the largest city in Pernambuco state, and the fourth-largest urban area in all of Brazil, home to roughly 4,054,866 people including the adjacent suburbs; the metro population of the city of Recife was 1,653,461 in 2020.[4][5][6] Recife was founded by the colonial Portuguese Empire in 1537, serving as the main harbor of the Captaincy of Pernambuco—known for its large-scale production of sugar cane.[7] At one point, it was known as Mauritsstad, when it served as the capital city of the 17th century colony of New Holland of Dutch Brazil (founded by the Dutch West India Company). Situated at the confluence of the Rivers Beberibe and Capibaribe, before they drain into the South Atlantic Ocean, Recife is a major seaport along the Brazilian Atlantic coast. Its name is an allusion to the stone reefs that are present offshore. Together with the urban presence of the Beberibe and Capibaribe Rivers and their tributaries, the many additional unique, small islands—and more than 50 bridges linking them throughout the city—create a distinct maritime or "riviera" atmosphere, leading to Recife being known as the "Venice of Brazil".

As of 2010, Recife has maintained the highest HDI of any state capital in Northeastern Brazil, and the second-highest of the entire Northern and Northeastern regions (second only to Palmas).[8] However, the city also is known as having some of the highest rates of gun violence in the entire country, despite also being considered the "safest state capital" in the Northeast. Although Recife often has a consistently higher crime rate than Brazil's South Region, it typically has a much lower crime rate than other regional capitals—such as Salvador or São Luís. Nonetheless, crime rose nearly 440% in 2015.[9] The waters along the coastline are also considered to be among the most dangerous “on earth”, as there have been many recorded shark attacks on swimmers at the beaches, including fatal incidents.

The Metropolitan Region of Recife is the main industrial zone of the State of Pernambuco, major products are those derived from cane (sugar and ethanol), motor vehicles, ships, oil platforms, electronics, software, and others. With fiscal incentives by the government, many industrial companies were started in the 1970s and 1980s. Recife has a tradition of being the most important commercial hub of the North/Northeastern region of Brazil, with more than 52,500 business enterprises in Recife plus 32,500 in the Metro Area, totaling more than 85,000.[10]

A combination of a large supply of labor and significant private investments turned Recife into Brazil's second largest medical hub (the first being São Paulo);[11] modern hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment receive patients from several neighbouring States.[12][13]

Recife stands out as a major tourist site within the Brazilian Northeast, known for the city itself, its beaches and for its historical sites, with many places of significance dating back to both the Portuguese and the Dutch colonies in the region. The beach of Porto de Galinhas, located 60 kilometers (37 mi) south of the city, has been repeatedly awarded the title of best beach in Brazil and has drawn many tourists. The Historic Centre of Olinda, 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) north of the city, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, and both cities' Brazilian Carnival are among the world's most famous. According to The Herald, Recife has the biggest consumption of whisky around the world.[14]

The city is an education hub, 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 for their studies. Recife and Natal are the only Brazilian cities with direct flights to the islands of Fernando de Noronha, a World Heritage Site.[15]

Recife was one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and previously hosted the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 1950 FIFA World Cup.

  1. ^ IBGE 2020
  2. ^ "TelluBase—Brazil Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series)" (PDF). Tellusant. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  3. ^ "ranking idhm 2010" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  4. ^ "Mais da metade da população vive em 294 arranjos formados por contiguidade urbana e por deslocamentos para trabalho e estudo" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  5. ^ "Arranjos Populacionais e Concentrações Urbanas do Brasil" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. p. 148. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  6. ^ "Estimativas da população residente no Brasil e Unidades da Federação com data de referência em 1º de julho de 2016" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  7. ^ "Entrevista com Laurentino Gomes: um mergulho na origem da exclusão social" (in Portuguese). Folha de Pernambuco. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "| Atlas do Desenvolvimento Humano no Brasil". Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  9. ^ "Recife é a capital mais segura do Nordeste | Prefeitura do Recife". Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  10. ^ "Recife Municipal Profile". Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  11. ^ "Recife Medical Pool". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  12. ^ "Pe-az.com.br". ww17.pe-az.com.br. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  13. ^ "Pernambuco Daily". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2008.
  14. ^ "Saude! Why Brazilian paradise Recife is the whisky-drinking capital of the world". The Herald. December 4, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  15. ^ "Unesco – Fernando de Noronha Islands". Archived from the original on June 7, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2009.

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