it was introduced. Professors atthe school also teamed up to launch Centro de Estudos e Sistemas Avancados doRecife (C.E.S.A.R), a business incubator that has played a vital role in thebirth of some 30 companies. A BIT OF TOURISTICAL ATTRACTIONS, HOTELS AND RECREATION:The celebrations,holidays and other events are numerous during the whole year. Thus the New Yearbegins at the beach, Praia de Boa Viagem and in Old Recife. The carnival ofRecife and Olinda (which has its historic town center considered world heritagesite by UNESCO in 1982) begins many weeks ahead in December with innumerableballs and parades. In the city, thecarnival festivities begin in December, as locals begin preparing for theofficial Carnival, which starts the week before Ash Wednesday. The pre-Carnivalparties usually consist of percussion groups practicing in local clubs, citystreets and squares, and even Carnival balls. There is a variety of rhythmsfrom different cultures. Carnival officially starts with the Galo da Madrugada,a party in Downtown Recife attracting many people from several States ofBrazil, and other parts of the world. Recife has manyquality 3, 4 and 5-Star International Hotels as well Pousadas (traditional Bed& breakfast) and Apart-Hotels totaling more than 11,500 bedrooms and thisnumber increase to over 30,000 in the metropolitan area of Recife. Mercado de Sao Jose(Market of Saint Joseph) is an old, iron construction with a popular marketnearby. In the Fort Cinco Pontes(Fort of Five Points) is the state museum, (Museu do Estado de Pernambuco). Atthe rectangular Patio de Sao Pedroare the Cathedral Sao Pedro (Cathedral of Saint Peter) dating from the year1782 and restored colonial houses, with numerous restaurants, bistros and bars.In the Bairro Santo Antonio (Saint Anthony Neighborhood), at the meeting placeof the rivers Capibaribe and Beberibe, is the Praca da Republica (Square of the Republic) with the Teatro SantaIsabel (Theatre of Saint Isabel), with its neoclassic front - well worthseeing, the Law Courts, and the Palacio da Justica (Palace of the Justice). Casa da Cultura (House of Culture) isan old prison that has been converted into a cultural space and shoppingcentre. Built between 1835and 1855, the Malakoff Tower, a monument constructed in Tunisian style, whichused to be an observatory and now is a cultural centre and a place for populargatherings. It is located at Arsenal da Marinha Square. It has been registeredas a Historical Patrimony and was named after a similar monument on Crimeanpeninsula, used as a defence center for Sebastopol. Recife has a zoo called Dois Irmaos Park, 387hectares of Atlantic Forest reserve and 14 hectares of botanical gardens. Thereare also 800 wild animals, the Natural Science Museum and various ecologicaltrails. The metropolitan area has also a giant water park 20 km(12 mi) North of Recife, called Veneza Water Park which has nearly onemillion sq/ft of area, ten millions litres of water and lots of water slidesfor the youngsters. Among Recife'smain tourist attractions are:Churches,historical monuments, public markets including 17th and 18th centuryconstructions from Portugues and Dutch colonisers; FranciscoBrennand s Atelier of ceramic art;RicardoBrennand Istitute: cultural institutewith museum, pinacotec and library;RecifeAntigo (Old Recife) buildings;BoaViagens Beach (the inside city's most important beach) and many beautifulbeaches in the metropolitan and state