Beautiful Olinda is seven km north of Pernambuco’s capital Recife, placed on a hill overlooking the capital and the Atlantic, and is one of the largest and best-preserved colonial cities in Brazil. Although many of the buildings in Olinda were originally constructed in the 16th century, the Dutch burnt virtually everything in 1631. Consequently, most of what you now see has been reconstructed at a later date. While Recife plays the role of an administrative and economic center, Olinda is recognized as its cultural counterpart: a living city with bohemian quarters, art galleries, museums, music in the streets and always some kind of celebration in the works. The best beaches in the region are located south of Recife.