Visit Charming Colonial Olinda

Located high on a cliff overlooking the sea and the modern city of Recife, sits picturesque Olinda, one of the best preserved colonial cities in Brazil. Travelers can walk through winding cobblestoned streets full of brightly colored buildings built in the 17th century. This breathtaking little town was founded by the Portuguese in 1530 and was used as a base for exporting sugar until the Dutch destroyed it in 1630. The Dutch then developed the town of Recife in the mouth of the river below and abandoned Olinda. The Portuguese rebuilt Olinda in 1654, but Recife continued to be the main financial center of the region.

A massive restoration project began in the 1970s, and in 1982 the beautifully-restored historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Full of churches, monasteries, pleasant plazas and sweeping views, Olinda is a great place to spend a few days. Although this lovely town looks like a 17th century village, it is very much lived in and travelers can see locals go about their daily lives which it lends it an authentic small town vibe full of friendly faces and children playing soccer.

Olinda is one of the best places in Brazil to visit during Carnival and has spectacular festivals throughout the year. The Carnival celebrations here are free and lively, and thousands of people come to Olinda to celebrate each year. The locals wear homemade costumes and put on huge puppet shows in addition to the usual Carnival mayhem which goes on throughout the country.

Many artists have their galleries in this inspiring town, which makes it a great place for travelers to purchase handmade wooden carvings, tapestries, paintings, and a variety of other artisan crafts. Olinda also boasts an emerging music scene with many bars and restaurants full of live music and talented singers in the evenings. The friendly inhabitants make visitors feel welcome and many travelers name Olinda as one of their favorite places in all of Brazil.

By: Challen Clarke

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This guide to charming Olinda was written by a Brazil travel expert at Brazil For Less available to help you custom design your www.brazilforless.com/packages/tours.php">Brazil vacations.