Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda

Welcome to Olinda, a city where time seems to dance to a different rhythm. Perched on lush green hills overlooking the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, Olinda is a masterpiece of colonial history and tropical beauty. …

Our tour begins at the Church of Carmo, or Igreja do Carmo (Ee-gray-zha do Car-mo). This is a fitting starting point as it is one of the oldest structures in the city, representing the very foundation of Olinda in the sixteenth…

We now move to the Monastery of São Bento (Sow Ben-to), a grand complex that epitomizes the 'colonial splendor' of Olinda. Founded in the late sixteenth century, this monastery was another victim of the Dutch fires but was…

Continuing our climb, we reach the Convent of São Francisco (Sow Fran-sees-co). This is a place of exceptional artistic importance, primarily for its stunning collection of 'azulejos'—blue and white decorative ceramic tiles that…

We have reached the highest point of the historic center: the Alto da Sé (Al-to da Say). This is the physical and symbolic heart of Olinda, centered around the Cathedral of the See, the oldest church in the town, reconstructed…

Descending from the heights, we come to the Mercado da Ribeira (Mer-ca-do da Ree-bay-ra). This historic marketplace dates back to the late sixteenth century and was once the commercial center of the town. …

As we conclude our walk through the streets, we must discuss the most famous modern tradition of Olinda: the Bonecos Gigantes (Bo-nay-cos Zhee-gan-tays), or Giant Puppets. These towering figures, some reaching over twelve feet in…

As our tour of the Historic Centre of Olinda comes to a close, take a moment to look back at the colorful hills and the soaring church steeples. We have journeyed through centuries of history, from the initial Portuguese…