CONVENT OF SÃO DOMINGOS

Built in 1577, it was the first convent founded by Portuguese Dominican priests in the country. During the first Dutch attack, it was burned down after two months of unsuccessful occupation, as was the city. By order of the King of Portugal, a second convent was built in its place in 1617. Initially for religious missionaries, it was converted into an elementary school, then into a cotton weaving factory, an asylum for the military and finally, a commercial court in 1935. It is still located here today.