Recife

Recife is a coastal metropolis at the northeastern tip of Brazil, built across a series of islands and peninsulas at the mouth of the Capibaribe River, earning it comparisons to Amsterdam and Venice in its historic layout of bridges and canals. The Recife Antigo waterfront district retains Dutch colonial architecture from the seventeenth century, when the Netherlands briefly controlled the region. The nearby Porto de Galinhas beaches, accessible as a day trip, are internationally known for natural rock pools swarming with tropical fish.