The most beautiful religious buildings Recife

It was during the Dutch domination (1630-1654) that the Jewish-Portuguese communities came to settle, taking advantage of the great religious tolerance of the Batavians. This synagogue is the oldest synagogue in America, operating from 1641 to 1654. The building was archaeologically excavated and opened to the public in 2001. The floor and objects from the 17th century, such as the Mikvê, a small bathtub used in purification rituals, are on display.

The origins of the Basilica of Nossa Senhora da Penha date back to the time of the hereditary captaincies, when the Dutch Count Maurice de Nassau, then governor, welcomed the first French Capuchin missionaries to Recife in 1642. The church was rebuilt in 1870, in an eclectic style of Italian inspiration. Inside, there are paintings by the Pernambuco artist Murillo la Greca. As well as the Museu Dom Vital (open on Fridays from 6am to 6pm).

This chapel is one of the splendors of Recife. Built between 1696 and 1724, this chapel, so named for its fine gold woodwork, is one of the best examples of Baroque art in Pernambuco. It houses the Franciscan Museum of Sacred Art as well as the convent and Igreja de Santo Antônio, the former hospital building and the Ordem Terceira house of prayer, which make up the Franciscan complex in Recife. You can see beautiful azulejos.

Dedicated to the patron saint of Recife, the majestic Carmelite Church was built between 1687 and 1767, on the site of the Palácio da Boa Vista, of the German Count João Maurício de Nassau, the governor of Dutch Brazil. The interior of the building is Baroque in style and contains some interesting works. Together with the Convento do Carmo and the Igreja de Santa Teresa da Ordem Terceira, it makes up the Carmelite complex of Recife, initiated a century after the arrival of this order in Brazil.

Built in the 18th century by the brotherhood of the Santissimo Sacramento do Corpo Santo, this church is considered one of the most beautiful in Recife. Built between 1753 and 1790, its interior is richly decorated with sculptures from the late 18th century. The façade of the building is magnificent, with volutes and shells on the portals. In the main altar there is a throne with a crucifix and niches containing the images of Saint Anthony and Saint Sebastian.

Beautiful church completed in 1771. The interior is in rococo style, typical of northern Portugal. The simple facade hides an exuberant interior, rich as the image of Nossa Senhora da Conceição on the high altar and the white and golden rococo sculptures of the central arch. On the choir, one can admire a fresco representing the first battle of the Guararapes against the Dutch. There is also the Padre Roberto Barbalho Museum of Sacred Art.