Recife is known as the ‘Venice of Brazil’ on account of the canals and waterways which criss-cross the city. It is well endowed with churches and is also a popular beach resort with a fine waterfront lined with restaurants. Recife takes its name from the Portuguese word for reef, due to the city’s location behind a protective coral reef. Olinda, which has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is located 6.4km (4 miles) from Recife – it offers around 20 Baroque churches, mansions, gardens and fine colonial architecture.