A Cultural Heritage site as declared by UNESCO, tourists who have fascination for culture will not be disappointed with what Olinda has to offer. The city, with almost 500 years of history, has made sure that its rich and colourful culture is best-preserved for the next generations to appreciate.
Here are some places in Olinda with cultural value:
Public Library of Olinda
The Public Library of Olinda is about 179 years old. It was built after (then) Emperor Dom Pedro I ordered for a public library in the town. It was Pernambuco’s first library, and the fifth in the country.
With over 20,000 titles and a large collection of magazines, videos, CD-ROMs, and DVDs, the city is one of the best places to be to discover some of Olinda’s best-kept treasures. The library is located at suburbs of Caramel, in Liberty Avenue.
Municipal Archives of Olinda
The Municipal Archives of Olinda is dedicated to the “collection and preservation” of archives and documents significant for the city’s history. Many of the documents date back from the late 16th Century to the 20th Century. The municipal archives are divided into three major categories: Iconographic, Cartographic, and Textual. It also has a wide collection of rare books dating 400 years ago.
Caixa D’Água
Caixa D’Água is considered to be the hallmark of modern architecture in the country. It was built in 1934 under architect Luis Nunes. Located in Alto da Sé, the structure was known to have changed the concept of architecture not just in the city, but the country as well.
CEMO (Center for Music Education in Olinda)
Dedicated to preserving and fostering music in the city, CEMO or the Center for the Music Education in Olinda was purchased by Colonel Arthur Lundgren in 1915. It used to be part of the Site Ramos with fish pond and fruit trees. After being abandoned for many years, the mansion was then restored to become what it is now.
Farol de Olinda
Farol de Olinda is also known as the Olinda Lighthouse. It was originally built on Montenegro fort and was lit for the first time in 1872. Lying in Hill Serapion, the lighthouse was officially inaugurated on September 7, 1941. It has one of the city’s outstanding landscapes, thus, making it among Olinda’s major landmarks.
Fort of San Francisco
The San Francisco Fort, which is also known as “the fort cheese” in reference to its small size, date back in the 17th Century. Until the first half of the 18th Century, the fort was built to protect the coast of Olinda. It was abandoned or many years and then went through restoration during the 1970s.
The fort has a very simple architecture. It has a rectangular shape and can be accessed through a 10m cement ramp.
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Olinda did not have its cultural titles for nothing, thus expect a lot of culture-related structures (and even festivals) when in the city.