Olinda has nearly 500 years of History. In the first 100 years of Brazil, Olinda was one of the richest cities in the country. The Dutch occupied Olinda for 24 years, adding to the already rich culture, mixture of Portuguese, black and Indian elements.
When the Dutch left, the neighbour city of Recife took the role of commercial and political center. The proximity with Recife kept Olinda in constant cultural, political and intellectual movement; on the other hand, the signals of progress (skyscrapers, shopping centers, wide avenues) preferred to establish in Recife, allowing Olinda to grow at its own pace.
(c) Sander van Hulsenbeek
