Olinda
A Colonial City by the Sea on Brazil's Northeast Coast
Olinda is one of the best preserved Brazil's colonial cities, located
on the northeast Atlantic Ocean coastline, in the state of Pernambuco. Some believe that its name (O, linda!)
stands for 'Oh, beautiful' in Portuguese, while others source its name to a literary character. Whatever its
origins, there's no doubt that Olinda is one of the most beautiful historical Brazil's colonial cities.
Olinda - Brazil's Colonial City
Traveling down the northeastern coast
of Brazil, you’ll see gleaming
resort cities, long stretches of sandy beaches, and beautiful small beach towns and fishing villages, but I
was still surprised to find this little colonial city perched along the shore. Olinda’s small, winding,
cobblestoned streets, great Brazilian restaurants, fantastic views, and colonial architecture provided a
welcome contrast to the beach scene.
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As many other
Brazilian towns, Olinda streets are small, winding and colourful. (Photo:
zeafonso) |
Olinda was founded in 1557, and served as the Pernambuco state
capital for a number of years until the capital was moved four miles south to Recife. We spent two pleasant days
exploring the shady streets and alleyways here, sampling the restaurants, and stopping to admire the views of the
ocean and numerous church steeples visible from much of this hilly city.
Twenty colonial period churches remain in Olinda, and they will be
the highlight for photographers or architecture buffs - visitors here feel as though they have been carried back in
time. In 1982 Olinda was declared a Historical and Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by the UNESCO.
Olinda Beaches
As for the beaches, they’re not the reason that I would go to Olinda.
I found them to be small, narrow, and crowded, well below the standard set by Fortaleza, Canoa Quebrada, or
Natal. Nearby Recife would be a better beach destination in this area, especially since it's only a few miles
further down south.
A popular tourist draw for Brazilians and foreigners alike, Olinda
can be crowded on weekends and holidays. Being an attraction brings with it the advantage of good tourist
infrastructure, but it also brings some annoyances, such as the young, energetic "tourist guides" that will come
out of the woodwork as soon as you arrive in town, wanting to show you around.
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Brazil is well known for its colourful carnivals,
which are held in
many places in Brazil, at different times of the year, including Olinda. |
Olinda Carnival
The highlight of the year in Olinda
- as is the case with many Brazilian cities - is its Carnival. Olinda's Carnival is known throughout Brazil as
being the most authentic in the country, with its African influenced dancing. It’s rich in tradition and folklore,
without the electric bands or huge floats found elsewhere in the country. The main attraction for many is the use
of giant puppets made from cloth and paper mâché, some of which have been in the parade since 1932. The city fills
to the brim for these five days of mayhem ending on Ash Wednesday. And the best part is that unlike Rio de Janeiro
carnival, admission to Olinda Carnival is free.
When visiting Olinda, I advise you
to avoid the weekends, so you’ll have more of the place to yourself. Plan to spend a day on one of the oldest
streets in town, Rua do Amparo - a culture-rich corridor lined with inns, restaurants, museums, and art studios - while
enjoying the warm weather and ocean breezes. In particular, pay a
visit to Olinda's historic downtown area, which is a World Heritage Site.
Property in Olinda
And if you’d like to stay for more
than just a visit to Olinda, buying property here is not as expensive as you might think, given the city’s beauty and popularity. I
looked at a nice home directly on the famous Rua do
Amparo, with a corner lot and ivy-covered walls. It would be a great
place to be at the heart of everything that’s going on here, or to open a tourism-related business. With three
bedrooms and two baths, the asking price is $105,000 at today’s exchange rates. The owner doesn’t speak English,
but if you speak Portuguese (or know someone who does), you can call him at tel. +(55) 81-9239-6034 for more
details.
Lee
Harrison Roving Latin
America Editor, International Living
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