What to Do in Recife, Brazil 🌉🇧🇷

Recife, whose name comes from the Portuguese word for "reef" (🪸), is often called the "Venice of Brazil"—thanks to its 200+ bridges crisscrossing the city! 1️⃣ Old Town (Recife Antigo) A charming area full of churches, colorful houses, and historic sites: ✅ Casa da Cultura de Pernambuco 🏛️ – A former prison turned into a craft market (each cell is now a tiny shop!). ✅ Pátio de São Pedro ⛪ – A beautiful church square surrounded by colonial-era houses. ✅ Recife City Museum 🏰 – Housed in an old fort, it tells the city’s history (free entry, English info available). ✅ Praça do Marco Zero 📍 – The "Zero Kilometer" landmark, with vibrant buildings. From here, take a boat (R$10 round trip) to Parque de Esculturas Francisco Brennand (a sculpture park). ✅ Praça da República 🎶 – Surrounded by grand buildings like the theater and courthouse. 2️⃣ Olinda (30 mins from Recife) 🚌 A UNESCO-listed colonial town famous for its colorful houses and steep streets. ✅ Igreja do Carmo ⛪ – A free-to-enter monastery (the main door is closed, but the side entrance is open!). ✅ Letreiro de Olinda ✨ – The town’s iconic sign, with a great view of the monastery below. Nearby church entry: R$6. 3️⃣ Boa Viagem Beach 🏖️ A famous beach, but honestly? Not that special if you’ve seen many beautiful beaches before. Plus, there are shark warnings (🦈)—though some brave souls still swim! 📸 Fun fact: Many churches in Recife and Olinda are just bell towers now—the rest collapsed over time. 🍽️ Where to Eat I heard Guaiamum Gigante was great for blue crab (R$20-30 each), but when I went, they only had R$299 for 3 crabs 😳. Most dishes were R$100+, so I left. 🚤 Bonus: Porto de Galinhas If you love beaches, you can take a trip to Porto de Galinhas (south of Recife). I skipped it—not a beach person! #GlobeTrotting #SouthAmerica #Brazil #Travel #TravelDiaries #SoloTravel