Commerce in Recife's central area (PE-Brazil): new and old concepts about the city's history

Abstract

Social and spatial practices of commerce in Recife’ central area (port city in the Brazilian Northeast) - reveal distinct processes of development of the city since 19th century. In the past, the commerce, associated basically with the port activities, developed a complex network of formal and informal business, articulating typical production of the Northeast country (sugarcane and cotton) and external demands. Currently, new public and private enterprises in this area stimulate yet foreign interests, through revitalisation programmes with emphasis in tourism, despite the resistance of traditional practices, disclosing rich and diversified landscape of social-spatial permanence and changes.