Is a small charming town, built on low hills just 4 miles away from Recife. A city with colorful houses, riches, balconies, old monasteries and very ornamented churches. UNESCO decided to turn the city as a Cultural Patrimony. Founded in 1753 by the portuguese - Duarte Coelho, was one of the capitals of 17th century. You will certainly hear about the origin of its name: someone exclaimed from the very top of a hill "Oh beautiful" which means "Oh linda" city. The ocean breeze caresses the city the whole year-round. Nowadays the city is still an important center for northeastern artists, possessing numerous galleries and studios.

 Porto de Galinha's beach, one of the most fashionable and beautiful beaches of Brazil. Crystal water, natural pools and multicolor fish are abundant. On the way, appreciate the sugar canes and palm trees.

 If you are looking for a good beach but don’t want to take a long journey to get there, Boa Viagem is the best choice. Located in the privileged southern Recife metropolitan area, Boa Viagem is the most important and frequented beach in town. It is protected by a long reef wall and has an extensive coastline.

 To say that Carnival in Pernambuco is different in time, space and form of expression, is not unfounded. In time, because it goes beyond the official days of Carnival, stretching from December to February (in Olinda into the first days of March), with balls, rehearsals and anything that might be an excuse to “fall into step” with the frevo (a frenetic local dance rhythm). In space, because it takes place in the streets and squares, the clubs and headquarters of carnival groups, in houses and anywhere that can accommodate the euphoria of Pernambuco. In form of expression because it represents a rich and varied folklore: caboclinhos (indigenous groups), maracatus (African pageants), carnival groups, frevo clubs, papangus (masked clowns), bumbas-meu-boi (a folk presentation with a bull as the central character) and a large number of other attractions.

 Perhaps the most curious thing about the "Fort of Five Points" is that it only has four. The original Dutch fort built in 1630 had five, but the Portuguese thought so little of this unorthodox design that, in 1677, they leveled the five-pointed fort and rebuilt it in the traditional style. The fort today has been wonderfully restored; you can wander the ramparts and explore the bastion at will. Unfortunately the city has crept out far past this once seaside installation leaving the fort outflanked by a freeway. The city museum, which takes up two wings of the fort, is extremely well done. Two whole air-conditioned rooms are devoted to the Dutch period, and there's a wealth of maps and drawings of this early colony. Other rooms show the development of Recife over time; as late as the 1950s Boa Viagem had nothing but a few lonely beach cottages.

 Itamaracá is located only 29 miles away from Recife and is linked to the mainland by a bridge. It is famous for its deserted beaches, stately palms and excellent sailing. As a particular interest, there are the ruins of Vila Velha (the old naval headquarters building) and the site of Fort Orange, built by the Dutch in 1631.

 Based on the tradition of a family that for generations has produced ceramics and the best of what can be made, Francisco Brennand gave birth to his world among the ruins of the family’s old brick factory. For generations, the Brennand family has traditionally produced ceramics of the finest quality. In 1971, Brennand started creating what is today his studio, factory and a museum of his works. It is considered one of the most important centers for learning the art of ceramics in Brazil. The museum is an old-new world of temples and gardens, imaginary creatures and mystical animals, eggs and guardians – “strange creatures of powerful magic and magnificent shapes, full of wonderful colors of a tropical landscape”. (Antonio Margarita)

 The Golden Chapel was aptly named. The altar is a two-story arch of jacaranda and cedar, all gilt with gold. Christ hangs on a golden cross with gold and silver rays shining out behind His head. (He has real hair, which is a little disconcerting.) The walls are hung with oil paintings, each frame ornately carved and ogeed to save your life and covered in a layer of real gold. The chapel is part of a Franciscan complex that includes a small sacred art museum with a few nice pieces of gold and silver work. Also worth of a look, is the Church of the Ordem Terceiro de São Francisco. One wall of this church is decorated with a huge and rather disturbing oil painting showing Franciscan monks getting crucified on St. Andrews-style X crosses. Someone else obviously took a dislike to it; the face of every soldier has been scraped away. Don't miss the church archives behind the altar. The cabinets are 12 feet high and made of solid jacaranda--gorgeous craftsmanship.

 The panopticon prison was the invention of English reformer Jeremy Bentham. Like all panopticons, this former jail was built in the shape of a cross, with a center hall and four hallways to allow the guards to stand in one spot and keep an eye on all four wings. The building has barely changed since its prison days; the cells, still with their original numbers, are now occupied by souvenir shops. There's still more than frisson of dread as you climb the heavy iron catwalks and duck, through a thick doorway into one of the old cells. A good thing is that there's nothing more frightening than the handicrafts inside.

 The Goddes Aphrodite certainly blessed the island of Itamaracá as well as she also blessed Pontas de Pedra and Maria Farinha. In fact, "Maria Farinha" is becoming a real summer resort where you can find bars, restaurants, a yatch club and hotels. There is also an ultra-light landing field. You can also practice "water-skiing", rent sea diving equipment and motor-boats as well.