Desde las primeras divisiones territoriales del Gran Recife, las iglesias puntúan el escenario urbano con sus torres, sus atrios y patios, siendo fuertes símbolos de reconocimiento e identificación de barrios de la ciudad. Las iglesias sus patios y atrios formaron parte de las primeras concesiones territoriales (sesmarias), después parroquias, hoy barrios, confiriendo un cierto ambiente urbano que no huye a la regla sobre la forma de ocupación característica del Brasil colonial; fueron y son espacios de convivencia de la sociedad de las cercanías, constituyendo hoy espacios públicos y laicos. Estos espacios forman parte del paisaje urbano de esa ciudad, marcado por la proximidad del agua (como río, mar o embalse) que aporta la identidad y conformación espacial propios a este paisaje. Se ilustra con varios ejemplos las ideas esbozadas a lo largo del escrito.Abstract'Churchyards, 'Largos', and Forecourts in the Great Recife Area Cityscape'. From the earliest land partitions in the Great Recife Area, the churches have pointed out because of their towers, forecourts, and yards. These are symbols of recognition and identification for the different districts in the city. The churches and churchyards were part of the first land grants known as sesmarias, that then became known as parishes and now are called districts. These districts have a certain urban atmosphere that doesn't differ from the typical colonial Brazil manner of occupation, they were spaces where the common folk from the vicinity gathered, today they are public secular spaces. These spaces are a part of the city landscape of Recife, and their proximity to water bodies such as the river, the sea and reservoir, contribute to the identity of this cityscape. The article includes several images to illustrate the ideas presented by the author.