Olinda

The city of Olinda was the capital city of the state of Pernambuco until the year 1630. Olinda was founded by Portuguese settlers in 1530, and was located on a steep hill that overlooked the harbor. Olinda become prosperous on the export of sugar from the sugar mills. The Dutch were trying to take over the sugar business, and they tried to take over the city of Salvador in the year 1624, but their efforts failed. In 1630, the Dutch took over the state of Pernambuco and the capital city of Olinda.  During the takeover by the Dutch, everything in the city of Olinda, with the exception of a few small churches, was completely destroyed. Because of this, the Dutch needed a new capital for their occupation, so the capital city was moved from Olinda.

Once the Dutch were expelled in the year 1654, Olinda was rebuilt as a source of pride by the Portuguese. However, the center of the region had shifted, so Olinda was not made the capital city again. Because of this, the city did not experience pressure for development, and the city changed very little from the seventeenth century. Olinda is still a quaint pristine town that looks and feels old fashioned.

Restoration to further restore the city of Olinda began in the 1970s.  The city is considered the most well preserved colonial city in the whole country of Brazil. However, the city still feels lived in, not deserted. Children still play on the hard packed dirt, and residents still live and frequent the city shops and businesses. The population of Olinda is roughly three hundred and fifty thousand people. The name Olinda is Portuguese, and the phrase O’, linda means Oh, beautiful in the language. Olinda was so named because of the beauty and natural scenery that drew the Portuguese settlers to the area.

There are numerous tourist attractions in the city of Olinda. There is a historic downtown area, old churches and buildings, carnival, and other attractions that draw visitors from all over. Unlike some of the other cities, the admission for the carnival is free, and partiers can enjoy themselves for either no charge or very little, depending on what the visitor wants to do and see. There are plenty of things to do and see in Olinda that is very cheap or free. Whether you are a tourist on a small budget, or a visitor with an unlimited bankroll, there is so much to see and do in historic Olinda that you are sure to have a great time.