Top Recife Art & Culture

Compare past and present with a tour of modern Recife and colonial-era Olinda. Take a panoramic ride through Recife, crossing graceful bridges in the old town areas and on the way, you will drive along the scenic shoreline through Boa Viagem, passing the imposing colonial-era Governor’s Mansion and Santa Isabel Theater. Arrive in charming Olinda and begin exploring. Founded in 1534 and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, historic Olinda retains many fine examples of colonial-era architecture, despite the Dutch burning down much of the city in the early 17th century. Visit Sé Cathedral and admire its Portuguese tiles and gilded carvings. Stop for a photo of the picturesque views of Recife and Boa Viagem, and enjoy a refreshing beverage before returning to your Hotel.

Explore the Ricardo Brennand Institute during this 5-hour tour in Recife. Follow an audio guide through the world-class art collection, including one of the world's largest weapons collections and a significant number of Frans Prost paintings. Continue to the Oficina Francisco Brennand to see a collection of a native Brazilian contemporary sculptor, with an additional visit to the Park of Sculptures to see more of the artist's work. Entrance fees and round-trip transportation from select Recife hotels are included.

Recife's cultural sights tend to cluster in the historic center and along the beachfront, leaving the Ricardo Brennand Institute—set inside a neo-Gothic castle complex in the city's western suburbs—overlooked by travelers without their own transport. Combine admission with a transfer from Recife, with access to the institute's Frans Post collection, medieval arms and armor holdings, and rare-book library.