Our Lady of the Presentation Cathedral, Natal, Religious landmark in Cidade Alta, Natal, Brazil

Our Lady of the Presentation Cathedral, known as the Old Cathedral, stands on Praça André de Albuquerque in Cidade Alta, Natal. Its white and peach-orange facade rises to a curved gable topped by a stone cross, with a small oval window below. A tall square bell tower on the right carries a clock face, an arched belfry opening and a white balustrade at the top; a lower white annex with a tiled roof extends to the right.

The first church built in Rio Grande do Norte, it stands on what was Rua Grande, now Praça André de Albuquerque, in Natal's historic centre. Its original design is attributed to the Jesuit priest Gaspar de Samperes. It became the state's first cathedral and is listed by IPHAN.

The church is dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Apresentação, not to Nossa Senhora do Rosário. Its name refers to the Presentation of Mary, a devotion that shaped the identity of Natal's first parish. The building now serves as a concathedral, known locally as the Old Cathedral, and stands on Praça André de Albuquerque, the former Rua Grande, in the historic centre.

The building faces Praça André de Albuquerque in Cidade Alta, on the site of the old Rua Grande, in Natal's historic centre. It is a former church, so there are no services to work around; approach on foot from the surrounding streets of the upper city. Look for the clock face and white balustrade on the square bell tower, and the stone cross on the curved gable.

The church is listed by IPHAN, Brazil's national heritage institute, and its original design is attributed to the Jesuit priest Gaspar de Samperes. It stands on Praça André de Albuquerque, formerly Rua Grande, one of the first streets of Natal.