'''Olinda'''[http://www.olinda.pe.gov.br] is a city in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco. It hosts one of Brazil's most famous carnivals and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its XVI and XVII-century buildings. Many bars, restaurants, artist and craftspeople studios add charm to the old-town setting.
Get in
Olinda is approximately 7km from the center of Recife, with plenty of local buses runnning in between. A taxi to/from the airport will cost some R$ 40.
Get around
The Historic Center is compact and can be explored on foot.
See
Olinda's beautiful scenery and architecture make for a pleasant sightseeing all around.
Colonial architecture, belvederes and the blue sea paint a relaxed environment that is second to none among Brazilian traditional cities.
Churches
'''Churches''' - ''Mosteiro de Sao Bento'' (1582) and ''Convento de Sao Francisco'' (1585) are very important buildings of baroque Brazil.
'''Church of Alto da Se'''. Central square. Also known as Church of Sao Salvador do Mundo, this was the first church built in Brazil. It was built in 1540 and was briefly a protestant church during the Dutch occupation in the 17th century. Mo-Fr, 8AM-5PM. Free entrance.
''Olinda is all for the eyes''<br>
''it's not tangible, it's all desire.''<br>
''No one says, "That's where I live."''<br>
''They just say, "That's where I see."''<br>
<br>
-- Celebrated Brazilian poet Carlos Pena Filho, in his poem ''Olinda''.}}
Museums
'''Museum of Sacred Art''', 726, Rua Bispo Coutinho. Former house of the senate, nowadays is a rich exhibition of religious art with pieces dating back to the 16th century. From Tue-Mon, 8AM-6PM. R$ 1.00.
'''Museum of Contemporary Art of Pernambuco''', Rua 13 de Maio, Carmo. Phone (81) 3429-2587. Open Tuesday to Friday, from 8:30am to 12:30pm; Saturdays from 9am until noon; Sundays from 2 to 5pm. Entry: R$ 1,00
'''Museum of Olinda''', 128, Rua do Amparo. Displays colonial furniture and pictures. Free entrance.
'''Museu do Mamelungo'''
Beaches
The beach in Olinda proper is polluted. Local buses take you north to Pau Amarelo and Maria Farinha.
Others
'''Belvedere Alto da Se''', located at the yard of Church of Alto da Se. To the east, one can see the Atlantic Ocean; to the west, the urban scenery.
'''Rua do Amparo''' - restaurants, museums, hotels and art studios.
'''Serenades''' - groups of singers and musicians play old traditional songs through the city streets on Friday evenings.
Do
Outside of '''carnival''' season, Olinda boasts a lively culture, featuring mostly forro and maracatu in the clubs and town squares, as well as year-round, Saturday night serenades.
Carnival
Quite different from those of Rio and Salvador this is a lively street party, where ''blocos'' parade accompanied by ''frevo'' and ''maracatu'' music. There is a certain activity during the weeks before (and some after), but the party itself explodes on the official dates, from Friday evening until Wednesday morning. Its most famous representative are the giant dolls carried on the shoulders of the people. The parties are non-stop, 24 hours, but the bulk of the crowd fills the streets daytime. When looking for accommodation, bear in mind that the most central streets get very noisy.
Buy
Local crafts and artwork. Be wary of making your purchases in or near '''Alto da Se''', as prices there tend to be inflated due to the constant flow of tourists. The '''Mercado da Ribeira''' houses a variety of shops.
Musical instruments, such as those used in maracatu and forro.
Eat
'''Sargacao''', near Praca do Carmo near the beachfront, serves sandwiches and burgers until the late night hours.
Alto da Se hosts a variety of food vendors, with a lively environment in the early evening.
'''Mourisco''', Praca Joao Alfredo, offers self service at a reasonable price.
If you wish o splurge, '''Oficina do Sabor''', Rua do Amparo 335, offers a privileged view of Recife.
Drink
Olinda's ''prefeitura'' (mayor's office) publishes a monthly nightlife guide, available in tourist offices and hotels.
Mercado Eufrasio Barbosa often hosts cultural presentations and live music shows.
Xinxim da Bahiana (Avenida Sigismundo Goncalves, near Praca do Carmo) hosts live bands and DJs throughout the week. Especially interesting are forro on Wednesday and Saturday nights.
Every other Saturday, the neighborhood of Amparo (adjacent to the Historic Center), hosts a street party featuring the local rhythm of samba de coco.
Casa da Rabeca do Brasil (Rua Curupira, 125), in ''Cidade Tabajara''(outside of town, accessibel by bus or taxi), hosts a forro party every Saturday night.
Maracatu nations often hold open rehearsals throughout the year.
Sleep
Olinda has a wide range of options when it comes to lodging. Reservations could be wise in January and February. During '''carnival''' prices triple (literally!!!) and you will have to pay for the five nights from Friday to Wednesday no matter what. Private rooms (R$ 500-1000/5 nights) and apartments/houses (R$800 and up) are mostly cheaper, but standards vary greatly, and they are hard to book ahead. If you arrive on Thursday, there is still time.
Budget
'''Albergue de Olinda'''[http://www.alberguedeolinda.com.br/], 333, Rua do Sol, ''+55 81'' 34291592. Dorm bed R$ 35, doubles R$ 80.
'''Pousada d'Olinda'''[http://www.pousadadolinda.com.br/], 128, Praca Conselheiro Joao Alfredo, ''+55 81'' 34391163. Dorm bed R$ 25, doubles R$ 80.
'''Pousada dos Quatro Cantos'''[http://www.pousada4cantos.com.br/], 441, Rua Prudente de Moraes, ''+55 81'' 34290220.
'''Casa do Hilton''', Rua do Sol.
'''Pousada do Fortim''', Rua do Sol.
Mid-range
'''Hotel Sete Colinas''', 307, Ladeira de Sao Francisco, ''055 81'' 34396055. [mailto:7colinas@hotel7colinas.com.br]
Get out
Visit '''Recife''', only 7km away, worth a visit.
Take a local bus to '''Igarassu''' and visit the oldest church in Brazil.
Take a bus through Igarassu to '''Ilha de Itamaraca'''. There are beautiful beaches, as well as the Centor Cultural de Lia, a cultural center that specializes in the local rhythm called ciranda. If in Itamaraca, do not miss the famous Coroa do Aviao (a small, beautiful, sandy island), the IBAMA Centro Peixe Boi (a center for the preservation of the sea cow) and the Forte Orange (a 17th century Dutch fortress).
Local buses also make the trip to beaches north of Olinda, including '''Pau Amarelo''' and '''Maria Farinha'''.