ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PERNAMBUCO
Pernambuco, land of dances such as the embolada, maracatu, caranguejo, mangaba and mangue-beat, proud of its regional culture. Land of carnival – with a blend of different rhythms– frevo, caboclinhos, samba, afoxê and axé-music. Many masters of popular art are from this State so full of personalities, such as: Ariano Suassuna, Alceu Valença, Chico Science, Cícero Dias, Abelardo da Hora, Mestre Vitalino, and many others. By day you may visit the beach, shop at the malls, art galleries and handicraft shops; or stroll down the old streets of Recife and Olinda. When night falls, new and sensational opportunities arise. This is when you should visit the entertainment sections of the Metropolitan Region of Recife, with its spectacular shows and splendid bars, serving its renowned cuisine of seafood and regional dishes.
Pernambuco has a story to tell
History tells us that, in 1515, there was already a settlement in Pernambuco. Eleven years later, Portugal was receiving sugar produced here. During this period, our coast was being visited by Spanish expeditions and the Portuguese living here had already become one with the natives, even assuming indigenous customs. The history of Pernambuco is one of the richest of any state’s in Brazil.
The people of Pernambuco were pioneers in the nativist ideas when the Dutch were driven out, in the libertarian ideas of the Republican Movement of 1817, in the Confederação do Equador and many other revolutions throughout its history. It also led in the advancement of literature, arts and scientific research.
Paranambuco is an indigenous word that means, “hole in the sea”, but the Portuguese ended up calling it Pernambuco. In 1534, King D. João III, gave the land to Duarte Coelho, during the period of hereditary captaincies. Duarte Coelho initially settled in Itamaracá, later moving to Igarassu and founded the Vila dos Santos Cosme e Damião, where the oldest church in Brazil still stands. He went to the Caetés Indians and founded Olinda in 1536. Olinda was the capital of Pernambuco for three centuries. Recife was its port.
For over 10 years Duarte Coelho controlled the areas of Igarassu and Olinda, setting up the first sugar mills and developing sugarcane plantations. The number of mills increased, greatly stimulating growth. So much so that, in 1554, it attracted the attention of the French and Dutch. In 1630 the Dutch disembarked at Pau Amarelo beach. The prince Mauricio de Nassau arrived here much more with the vision of a statesman than a trader, interested in science and arts. Nassau rebuilt Olinda, which had been burned down by the Dutch, carried out urban civil works in Recife: the Friburgo and Boa Vista Palaces, opened new streets, canals, the first botanical garden of Latin America and the Cinco Pontas Fort.
The Indies Company began demanding of Nassau, in 1640, collection of debts and taxes from the Luso-Brazilians. He refused and was forced to leave Brazil. Result: in 1645 the Pernambuco Insurrection broke out – collective movement of revolt against the Dutch. Actually Pernambuco was decisive to the final expulsion of the Dutch from Brazil, especially in the Battles of Guararapes, in 1648 and 1649.
