Olinda Lighthouse, Maritime lighthouse in Olinda, Brazil

The Olinda Lighthouse is a distinctive tower painted with horizontal black and white stripes that rises from the fortress location. The structure stands on elevated terrain and commands views across the Atlantic and the surrounding colonial city.

Construction of a lighthouse at Olinda was authorized only in 1867, after decades of petitions citing the need to mark the Ponta de Olinda and Cabo de Santo António. The first tower, a 12.5-metre wrought-iron structure with a focal height of 19 metres, entered service on 18 November 1872 inside the Fortim de São Francisco. Threatened by the advancing sea, it was replaced by the current 42-metre reinforced-concrete tower, inaugurated on 7 September 1941 on the Morro do Serapião.

The lighthouse is run by the Brazilian Navy's Centro de Sinalização Náutica e Reparos Almirante Moraes Rego, under the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation. Its light shows two white flashes every 35 seconds, reaching about 85 km, and the tower is open to the public on Saturday, Sunday and holiday afternoons from 2 to 5 pm.

The tower is accessible on weekends and holidays during afternoon hours, allowing visitors to climb to the top for views. Plan your visit in advance since access times are limited and may vary seasonally.

The 1941 tower was the first Brazilian lighthouse fitted with a small lift to the lantern, carrying one person at a time. Its light, at a focal height of 90 m, shows two white flashes every 35 seconds and reaches about 85 km.