THE STATE

The rich mixture of cultures is present in its plastic literature, music, arts and folklore. One of the manifestations of dances and more typical rhythms of Pernambuco is the Frevo. Pernambuco is the second northeast economy, after the Bahia. In the start of century XIX the sugar sugar cane was its source of income, and currently it represents about 40% of its economy, that is if diversifying, giving space to the other agricultural, industrial activities, and of services.

RECIFE

It is a city very tied with the water, therefore besides being bathed for the sea, two rivers cross the city, and this makes with that it has a great amount of canals and bridges, making to be known it as "Brazilian Venice", in the center is only 39 bridges and 50 canals. The capital of Pernambuco is one of the main ones of Brazil with 2 million inhabitants, must its name to the natural wall of rocks (barrier of coral) that if extende for all the extension of its coast, protecting the beaches and creating a complete set of natural swimming pools. The city passed for a fast development and was seat of government in the period where the dutches had occupied the northeast of Brazil. It constitutes an important polar region of commerce and tourism in the region.

OLINDA

It is a small city constructed throughout seven low hills at 6 Km to Recife, that makes all the constructions have seen to the sea, and the house serpenteem for the coast. Of informal, typical urbanism of the Portuguese settling, the city of Olinda was a time set on fire for the Dutches, and later reconstructed. Diverse constructions had remained with the baroque one of the colonial period. Patrimony of the Humanity was declared.

ITAMARACÁ

The Island of Itamaracá is to about 50 km of Recife and is joined to the continent for a bridge. There are 16 km of desert beach, abundant in palms, between the attractive ones are the ruins of Old Village, old headquarters of the local captainship, and the Church of Ours Lady of the Conceição, encircled of colonial houses. Still the Engenho do Amparo exist and São João, and the Orange Fort, where it can be seen the 13 cannons pointing to the sea.

CARUARU

According to estimates of UNESCO, Caruaru is the biggest America's center of folkloric art of all. In this city, more of the one than the interest in the elements architectural, it is the interest in the cultural and artistic life. It always has a reason to visit it, in the Week Saint has the Latin American Meeting of Folklore and the Fair of the Districts, with the best one of regional music. Moreover at any time of the year the Fair of Caruaru can be visited, where it more than has 20,000 fixed points of venda of handicraft of all the country, and also of other nationalities, they is esteem that it is the biggest fair to the outdoors of the world. UNESCO considers that this city possesss the biggest sample of art of America.

COMMENT SENT BY Riccardo Galli - Italy

I remember the first time that I heard to speak on the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha . It was the commander of my flight in return to Italy , that was informing on the region where the airplane was flight over at this moment.

Later, some year, I came to discover that my aunt, a girl who travelled very much, had visited this archipelago and she was still very fascinated. Like a curious, I started to search and discovered that this was (and still is) the objective of many of the Brazilians. And I, half of the blood that slides in my veins is Brazilian, decided that it had that to visit this place the faster I could.

After this, in May of 2004, with great antecedence regarding my vacation of summer (September and October), I bought the aerial ticket and I contacted a Brazilian tourist agency for an organized excursion. To reserve with months of antecedence is obligator when (since 1988) it is about a marine park, where the tourist arrival is regulated, not more than 480 people to each time.

To each tourist fit to pay a daily ambient tax, whose it matters (as www.noronha.com.br) increases from the second week.

I really advise to land with everything that is necessary (filter solar, repellent of insects, material of diving), therefore in the archipelago the prices are well higher, with respect to the continent, and over all to carry sufficient amount of Brazilian currency.

To my acknowledgment, optimum period to visit it is enters the months of September and October. The better way to arrive at the archipelago is obviously the aerial one (but as alternative it is possible in boats). Generally the flight leaves of Recife and Natal in direction to the Fernando de Noronha .

If you are in contact with a tourist agency, very probably (already out of the airport) one of its employees will go to search you and it will quickly lead you to the central headquarters where you will see illustrated videos and transparencies (slides) on the flora, the fauna, all activity that can develop, and some simple rules of behavior of comment for the preservation of the island.

Given to the volcanic origin of the archipelago, there are very good diving immersions that can be practised with the dive instructors who give to the beginner the first experience. For these last ones, in fact, they are observed by the instructors who will follow them very close during all the immersion.

For all curious and the lover ones of the marine world, this is an experience that still must be lived, very clean water of the ocean allows to admire of close much species of fish, chorales and sharks (what are harmless to the man because in this natural habitat, they find its food in abundance). The best points of diving are: Bay of the Pigs, Tip of Caracas , Bay of Sueste and Atalaia. Moreover, in the Bay of Saint Antonio , it is possible to admire the remaining portion of a vessel Greek sunk in 1940.

Another activity that can be developed is the excursions (made through travel agencies that occur in groups). They allow knowing the most beautiful beaches of Brazil , as example the Beach of the Lion, Bay of the South-East, Beach of Sanchos . One of these still includes a small stroll of boat in direction to the Tip of Sapata where, with luck, it can be admired the dolphins playing in the water. In case that contrary, still it is possible to admire to the dolphins early in the mornings (about 6 a.m.) in the panoramic point called Mirante of the Dolphins, located in the Bay of the Dolphins.

Another excursion that I very advise is that one for the Beach of the Atalaia (admitting that the access to the tourists is still assented). Generally it has been left of the port and, by foot, walking for some kilometers throughout a beach, stops later catching a mountain that leaves and goes up throughout an appendix and goes down later in this wonderful beach rich in chorales. To certify itself not to damage, it is not assented to remain more than 30 minutes in the water. The daily group number admitted to visit this beach is limited.

It comes the night, what to do? Admitting that you are not tired, each night exists a Lecture instituted for the Ibama, where the staff will show the videos with the subject (Project of protection of the sea turtles - Tamar Project -, tubarões, dolphins and as much others) followed then for an explanation and commentaries. This still represents an occasion to socialize with the other tourists and friends of island.

And for who loves being until late in the night, there are places where the Forró can be listenned and danced, a sort of local popular music of very vivacious melody and that would deserve to be more known in the exterior in a similar way as is the Samba, the Bossa Nova and the Lambada.

One detail that I very appreciated is the fact of being able to walk calmly on the road at night. The traffic is almost inexistent, with exception of buggies of dunes that can be rented.

Fernando de Noronha is the ideal place for who want to escape of the life of every day, a beautiful excuse to recharge the proper physiological and mental battery.

Observe the photos: the living image is at least a 1,000 times better. I guarantee you!

updated on May 16, 2006

Comment sent by Riccardo Galli - Italy