Parque de Esculturas Francisco Brennand

The Parque de Esculturas Francisco Brennand occupies the reef breakwater opposite Marco Zero, in Recife, with ceramic and bronze works by the artist. Admission is free. It suits those already in Recife Antigo (Old Recife) who want to see art outdoors, as a couple, with family or alone.

• Official website
• Molhe dos arrecifes em frente ao Marco Zero, Bairro do Recife, Recife (PE); acesso por terra pelo fim da Avenida Brasília Formosa, no Pina

Getting there from Porto de Galinhas

First head to Bairro do Recife: it is about 50 to 65 km by car, around 1 hour without traffic. At Marco Zero, small boats leave from a pier below the square and cross the estuary in about 5 minutes, for R$ 5 each way (R$ 6 with a bicycle), paid in cash or by Pix, Brazil's instant payment. By car, access is from the end of Avenida Brasília Formosa, in Pina, following a narrow 1.5 km concrete road along the breakwater, with free parking. The Recife e Suas Pontes catamaran also stops at the park, Tuesday to Sunday, on the 11:00 and 14:00 departures, except on public holidays.

Hours and admission

Open Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 to 17:00, and Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 9:00 to 18:00, with last entry 20 minutes before closing. There is no admission fee; only the boat crossing is charged.

What to see

There are 87 works by Francisco Brennand spread along the breakwater. The centerpiece is the Coluna de Cristal (Crystal Column), a 32-meter tower with a bronze crystal flower. The park opened in 2000 and was restored between 2021 and March 2024, when it gained a new pier, restrooms, benches, a bike rack, lighting and 24-hour video monitoring. Guided tours with bilingual guides are available. Half an hour is enough to walk around the works.

Before you go

There is no shade on the breakwater. In strong sun, avoid the hours around midday.

For those who combine