The capital
of the Pernambuco was originated on the harbor formed by the reefs barrier all long its
coastline. The near city Olinda was the main urban center of the Pernambuco's captaincy,
in the beginning of Brazil's colonization, still in the XVI century. In 1630, the Dutch occuped Pernambuco and took
Olinda and the near port of Recife.
During the govern of Johan Maurits von
Nassau-Siegen (1637-1644) the Cidade Maurícia (Mauritsstad) originated there where
improvements were promoted with the construction of buildings, palaces, bridges, forts and gardens. In 1654, with the invaders expulsion,
the city returned to the Portuguese administration, in 1710, and its name changes to Vila
do Recife, and it replaces Olinda as the capital of Pernambuco's Province, in 1823. Recife
has an important historic patrimony, represented by ancient buildings, mainly in the XVII
to XIX centuries, such as big houses, wonderful baroque architecture churches, such as
Capela Dourada (Dourada Chapel), it's one of the most beautiful of the country, was
constructed between the XVIII and XIX centuries and has a rich altar in covered with gold
cut and wonderful roof pictures. It also should be visited the Matriz de Santo Antônio
(Santo Antônio Matrix), the Basílica de N.S. do Carmo (N.S. do Carmo Basilica) and the
N.S. do Rosário dos Pretos, all of that from the XVIII century.
Marco Zero, Recife Antigo.
In the Rua do Bom Jesus is the first
synagogue of the Americas (Kahal Zur Israel), that was risen up in the XVII century and
which keeps some original walls and houses a small museum. The synagogue functioned
between 1636 and 1654, at that time the synagogue served a community of approximately
1.450 Jews.
The statue of Johan Maurits von
Nassau-Siegen (1604-1679) (Mauricio de Nassau), Praça da República, Recife. He was the
governor-general of the Dutch Brazil (1637-1644) with the assistance of the famous
architect, Pieter Post of Haarlem, he transformed Recife by building a new town adorned
with splendid public edifices and gardens, which was called after his name Mauritsstad.
Capela Dourada da Ordem Terceira de São
Francisco , Recife.
Catedral de São Pedro dos Clérigos,
Recife. It was built between 1728-1759.
View from the Catedral de São Pedro dos
Clérigos, Recife.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Recife.
This church was built where was the old Palace of Boa Vista, built under the Dutch
governor Mauricio de Nassau.
Palace of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do
Carmo, Recife. This part of the Palace was, according to our guide, the remains of the old
Palace of Boa Vista, built under the Dutch governor Mauricio de Nassau. Look at the
windows of different sizes.
