Church of Our Lady of Misericórdia

The Church of Our Lady of Misericórdia displays a baroque facade with ornate curved scrolls rising without supports and a royal coat of arms in relief above. Inside, painted ceiling panels surround a central religious scene, while the altar features gilded carved details showing Portuguese royal symbols.

The Portuguese Crown ordered its construction in 1540 as the colonial settlement grew and needed a major religious center. Dutch forces destroyed it during their occupation in 1630, but locals rebuilt it after their departure in 1654, and it has remained a landmark since.

The name refers to Our Lady of Mercy, a devotion deeply rooted in Portuguese tradition and spirituality. Visitors can see painted panels inside that reflect this veneration and show the connection to Portuguese religious practices.

The church sits in Olinda's historic center on a hillside along Ladeira da Misericórdia street, surrounded by colonial-era buildings and cobblestone streets. It remains an active place of worship, so quiet and respectful behavior is expected during visits.

An adjacent building complex once housed Brazil's first hospital, operated by the Brotherhood of Santa Casa de Misericórdia, the country's earliest religious confraternity. This organization pioneered organized medical care in the colonial period and became a model for similar institutions across the country.