Jewish Heritage of Recife & Olinda
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Port
Recife, Brazil
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$120
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Visit Olinda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the colonial regional capital of Pernambuco, with grand houses and quaint churches.
You will step inside at the São Salvador Gallery and see the Alto da Sé, Sé Cathedral and Misericordia Church. From the latter, take a moment to admire the most beautiful view of Olinda and Recife.
Returning to Recife, you will see Marco Zero -- a monument on the spot where Recife was founded by the Portuguese in 1537 -- and walk down Bom Jesus Street, which once was the epicenter of the Jewish population in Recife. The synagogue and Jewish cultural center are still located here.
At the end of your walking tour, visit Pernambuco Embassy -- an exhibition center featuring the famous giant carnival dolls from Olinda. The first giant dolls, representing famous people such as singers, football players, actors, etc, were made of papier maché. Today they are made of fiberglass, which is much lighter. This is a great opportunity to see a little of Olinda's carnival spirit and it's easy to imagine the parade itself with the giant puppets.
Please note:
The streets in Olinda are too steep and narrow for the bus to negotiate; you will transfer from the tour motorcoach to a smaller minivan for a short ride up the hill. Every seat on the van will be filled in order to make the transfer in a timely manner. Guests with mobility limitations may encounter difficulties getting into and out of the van. Your guide will do his/her best to speak English, but please keep in mind that the limited tourism infrastructure of Recife is party of the city's charm, and bear with any language difficulties (s)he may encounter.