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The
capital of the state of Pernambuco
started its existence at the mouth of the Capibaribe and Beberibe
rivers in 1548 as a fishing settlement, but it soon grew and became
the seat of government during the period when the Dutch occupied
the North East region of Brazil. It is known as the "Venice of
Brazil" on account of its bridges, canals and rivers - in the
centre of the city alone there are 39 bridges crossing more than
50 canals. The capital of Pernambuco is a mixture of past and
present. Hidden behind a wall of modern buildings lies the Patio
de São Pedro, comprising colonial houses of the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries around the cathedral of São Pedro. The old
prison has been converted into a popular culture centre, with
shops selling fabrics, carpets, items of rope and straw, embroidery
and pottery.
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Recife
is also the Frevo capital of Brazil. During Carnival, the Galo
da Madrugada group of dancers opens the proceedings and brings
over a million people onto the streets - the group has entered
the Guinness Book of Records as the largest Carnival group in
the world. In the capital of Pernambuco, art and culture permeate
life and are reflected in the colonial architecture of the houses,
churches and old forts. In the Museum of Man of the North East,
an important collection takes the visitor back to the past, to
the height of the sugar era and to the best of Pernambucan popular
art. On the banks of the Capibaribe river, 16 kilometres from
Recife, is the workshop and museum of the artist Francisco Brennand,
in an old sugar mill which he has renovated. The museum is also
called the "Cathedral of Art", and 2,000 works by the artist are
on show there.
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