Olinda is the former capital of the State of Pernambuco, in the northeast of Brazil. It is well-known for the baroque  style of its buildings which dates back to the colonial period. Its architecture is so unique that it received the title of World Cultural Heritage site from UNESCO in 1982. (Look for more information about it at www.ovpm.org/ovpm/bottin/olinda.html ).

Olinda is also famous for its typical pottery, tapestry and wood crafts work. Together with Recife, the present capital of the State, it is a privileged spot for Carnival celebrations, in which the popular music rhythms of the Northeast of the country play an outstanding role. One of the favorites is "frevo”,  that requires dancers to carry small colorful umbrellas as they perform more than a hundred unique steps.

Restaurants:

Oficina do Sabor - Rua do Amparo 335, Phone: 429-3331
Chez Georges (french culinary with a regional touch) - Rua Manuel Borba 350, Phone: 439-5858
Goya - Rua do Amparo 157, Phone: 439-4875
Mourisco (seafood) - Praça Cons. João Alfredo nº 7, Phone: 429-1390

Attractions: Architecture: Walking in the Historic Center of Olinda allows tourists to see the buildings and monuments that make its architecture so precious and unique. The help of junior tourist guides is provided by the City Hall. People with limited endurance should go by car because of the large number of slopes.The main buildings (and their respective construction dates) are:

• Mosteiro de São Bento (1582)- baroque style, gold plated altar and ceiling; gregorian chants on Sundays (phone to confirm it: (081) 429-3288);

• Igreja da Sé (1537);

• Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo (1580);

• Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia (1540);

• Convento de São Francisco - Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Neves (1754) - beautiful murals made of Portuguese tiles;

• Igreja de São Francisco (1577);

• Museu de Arte Sacra, located in the old Episcopal Palace (1676)- sacred art and latin-american paintings;

• Museu de Arte Contemporânea;

• Fortim de São Francisco;

• Sobrados Mouriscos.

Also go  shopping for craft items at the “Mercado da Ribeira”. And enjoy the typical music and dance of the Northeast of Brazil flourish in Olinda. Among the most popular dances are “frevo”, “pastoris” and “maracatu”, which choreographies are rich in colors, movement and rhythm. They make for the uniqueness of Carnival in Olinda, one of the favorites in Brazil.