A striking example of formal baroque architecture, the Madre Deus church serves as a nice contrast to the nearby Paço Alfândega mall. The facade has been exceptionally well preserved considering the church's 18th-century heritage, while the interior showcases a unique interplay between ornate expressionism and traditional regional decorations. The main altar is a replica of the original, which was destroyed in a fire.
Igreja Madre de Deus
Recife
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Oficina Cerâmica Francisco Brennand
6.9 MILES
Francisco Brennand, born in 1927 into an Irish immigrant family and now considered Brazil’s greatest ceramicist, revitalized his family’s abandoned tile…
0.25 MILES
This strikingly red museum is a small and modern house of worship for frevo, the quintessential dance of the Recife Carnaval that is easily identified by…
0.39 MILES
Inaugurated in 2014, this bold museum highlights the culture of the sertão (the interior of Pernambuco state), especially as it relates to the godfather…
0.26 MILES
Built between 1696 and 1724, this gem of Brazilian baroque, part of the Convento de Santo Antônio, owes its name to the huge quantities of gold (said to…
Concatedral de São Pedro dos Clérigos
0.42 MILES
The 18th-century baroque Concatedral de São Pedro dos Clérigos has been totally renovated and contains incredibly fine stonework and wood carvings…
3.6 MILES
The Museu do Mamulengo has a unique and surprisingly interesting collection of more than 1000 pieces devoted to the traveling puppet shows called…
6.22 MILES
This scenic museum in Várzea, 11km west of central Recife, contains a huge collection of European and Brazilian art, swords, armor and historical…
0.4 MILES
This traffic-free square, lined with bars, restaurants and colorful 19th-century houses, is one of Santo Antônio's more peaceful spots and a good place to…
Nearby Recife attractions
1. Centro Cultural dos Correios
0.04 MILES
Hosts changing exhibitions and films but the quality of offerings is inconsistent.
0.05 MILES
This 19th-century customs house has been converted into a glitzy shopping mall; it's worth dropping in for a coffee or a bite in its food court to check…
0.2 MILES
The Marco Zero, a small 'Km 0' marker in the middle of the broad waterside Praça Rio Branco, marks the place where the Portuguese founded Recife in 1537…
0.21 MILES
A well-run cultural center in the historic center hosting rotating high-quality exhibitions and films.
5. Embaixada dos Bonecos Gigantes
0.22 MILES
Displays some of the giant fibreglass puppets that feature in the Olinda Carnaval. There's a host of national and international sports and musical stars…
0.23 MILES
The oldest synagogue in the Americas, Sinagoga Kahal Zur Israel is now a Jewish cultural center and has interesting murals (in Portuguese and English)…
0.25 MILES
This strikingly red museum is a small and modern house of worship for frevo, the quintessential dance of the Recife Carnaval that is easily identified by…
0.26 MILES
Built between 1696 and 1724, this gem of Brazilian baroque, part of the Convento de Santo Antônio, owes its name to the huge quantities of gold (said to…