Historic Center of Olinda - World Heritage Sites on Waymarking.com

Olinda, the popular mith say´s that the name came from an exclamation from his founder, Duarte Coelho when he spoted this place: "Ó linda situação para se constuir uma vila" (something like: "Oh beatifull place to build a village").

Olinda is one of the oldest towns in Brazil. It was founded in 1535 by Duarte Coelho Pereira has a settlement.
It had been elevated to village in March 12, 1537.
Olinda was the capital of the captainship of Pernambuco, but was flared up by Dutch, which translated the capital to Recife.

It was elevated to town in 1637 and in 1654 it became (again) the capital of Pernambuco when the Portuguese defeated the Dutch.
In 1837 loses (definetly) the title of capital to Recife (only 6 kms to the south).

Besides its natural beauty, Olinda is also one of the most important cultural centers of Brazil.
In 1982 was declared World Heritage by the UNESCO.
Every year Olinda revives the past during the "Carnaval" to the sounds and rythms of frevo, maracatu and other original rythms of Pernambuco. The Olinda "Carnaval" with it´s mixture or Portuguese and African dances keeps his essence and its very similar to some tipical "carnaval" of several Portuguese areas.

In 2005 Olinda was elected the 1st Brazilian Capital of Culture.

This was the first time Brazil had a Capital of Culture, a project of the Brazilian Capital of Culture Organization, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and UNESCO.

The given coordinates will take you to the main church (Sé de Olinda) where you have one (if not the best) of the best views of Olinda.

Type: Site Reference number: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/189

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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   03/31/2007 Freiwillige visited it 07/05/2006 Al-cab visited it 10/16/2000 manchanegra visited it

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