Olinda is a honeymooner's paradise and a poet's dream come true. This town rests like a jewel on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean with a quaint mix of natural beauty and colonial charm. A Portuguese colony from 1535, today, the historic churches, convents and monuments are a reminder of its colonial legacy. Olinda's Historic Downtown is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its structures with marvelous colonial architecture. An aerial view reveals an undulating coastline with lush green coconut plantations, broken by red roofs over gleaming white cottages. Olinda is most famous for an annual carnival that blends exuberant African and Portuguese song and dance. This carnival is free and attracts both local and international tourists.
