Cultural & Historic Recife

Delve into the culture and history of northeastern Brazil by visiting two of Recife’s finest museums, both treasure-troves of revealing artwork, weapons and artifacts.

Departing from the pier, you will soon enter the heart of this bustling city that the Dutch founded on three islands in the 1500s. Over the centuries, Recife has sprawled onto the mainland, preserved its colonial architecture, and built soaring skyscrapers. Yet, it has never lost its reverence for the region's history and arts and is home to a wealth of art galleries and museums.

Before long, you will arrive at the Institute Ricardo Brennand, a museum of sorts that is surely the city's most offbeat cultural attraction. Housed in Brennand's family estate and tile factory on a leafy tract of land in the northern suburbs, the medieval-style institute contains a huge collection of paintings, tapestries, decorated tiles and sculptures.

In his quest to become a world-renowned ceramic artist, Brennand created many of the pieces, which are erotic in nature. He was just as obsessed with weapons and the paintings of 17th-century Dutch artist Frans Post, and they are displayed throughout. The pieces couldn't be more eclectic or fascinating.

Continuing on, you will next visit the more conventional but no less enthralling Museum of the Man of the Northeast. It celebrates the cultural evolution of the people of northeastern Brazil through art and artifacts. The dominant themes of the exhibits are religion, folklore and sugar cane processing. Following your time here, you will rejoin your coach and transfer back to the pier.