The sacred heritage of Goiana in Pernambuco: Preserving stories
Goiana, in Pernambuco, was founded in the 16th century and is home to eight churches listed by Iphan. In addition, the Museum of Sacred Art houses a centuries-old collection that preserves the region’s rich history.
Historical context
As the administrative centre of one of the first and most prosperous hereditary capitals explored by the Portuguese at the beginning of the colonial period (1500-1822), the Metropolitan Region of Recife still has historical treasures that extend beyond the geographical boundaries of the capital and neighbouring Olinda, declared a World Heritage Site in 1982.
Goiana in Pernambuco
One of the most important historical sites is located about 60 kilometres from Olinda and Recife, in the centre of Goiana, a municipality in the Zona da Mata Norte, an important cultural cradle of the state, developed on lands inherited from the former captaincy of Itamaracá.
In addition to beaches such as Catuama, Ponta, de, Pedras and Carne de Vaca, Goiana has a religious and artistic heritage that is little known on the tourist routes. A belt of seven churches from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries surrounds the urban area in a radius of less than one kilometre.
Goiana is one of the oldest settlement centres in Brazil, having been the seat of the hereditary captaincy of Itamaracá, elevated to the rank of parish in 1568, and later becoming the centre of several sugar mills.
During the Dutch Invasion, the Goiana region was the scene of several confrontations, one of the most memorable being in 1646, when women defended the village of Tejucopapo from a surprise attack by the Dutch, repelling them without the help of Portuguese-Brazilian troops. This fact, though little known, is an important part of Brazilian history, and the women have become known as the Heroines of Tejucopapo.
Also living in the Goiana region was André Vidal de Negreiros, who owned a sugar mill and was one of the main leaders in the fight against the Batavos.
After the expulsion of the Dutch, the town grew again and became home to two convents, a Santa Casa de Misericórdia and several other churches.
See Pernambuco’s Oldest Churches and the First Church in Brazil
Videos about Baroque Churches and Museum of Sacred Art in Goiana PE
Capela de Santo Antônio do Engenho Novo
Igreja de São Lourenço de Tejucupapo01:24
Matriz de Goiana - Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Homens Brancos
Igrejas Barrocas em Goiana PE23:52
Museu de Arte Sacra em Goiana PE04:25
Historic Churches in Goiana: A Cultural Heritage (PE)
- Church of Nossa Senhora do Amparo dos Homens Pardos
- Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Convent of St Albert of Sicily
- Church of Our Lady of the Conception
- Church of Our Lady of Wonders
- Church of Our Lady of Mercy
- Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the White Men
- Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black Men
- Church and Monastery of Our Lady of Solitude
- Church of Our Lady Tereza D’Ávila of the Third Order of Carmelites
- Chapel of St Anthony
1. Church of Our Lady of the Help of Grizzly Men
Built in 1681 and restored in 1870.
On the high altar is the image of Our Lady of Amparo, a gift from Princess Isabel. There is also the gravestone of Jerônimo de Albuquerque, a hero from Pernambuco, and his wife.
Listed as a National Historic Site by IPHAN in 1938.
For many years, the building functioned as a temporary museum exhibiting 17th century sacred art, which recently moved to the Social Service of Commerce (SESC) building.
Location: Rua do Amparo | Praça da Bandeira | Goiana/PE
2. Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Monastery of St Albert of Sicily
The church was built in 1672 in the mannerist baroque style. It has hardwood paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the most remarkable features of the convent is the entrance hall, which is richly carved and painted.
The complex also shows elements of Arab architecture, with its symmetrical and light features, especially in the towers.
To the left of the main altar, there is a small chapel dedicated to Bom Jesus dos Passos, with an image of Our Lady of Tears.
It belongs to the Carmelite Order and was declared a National Historic Monument by Iphan in 1938.
Location: Praça Frei Caneca | Praça do Carmo | Goiana/PE.
3. Church of Our Lady of the Conception
The church was built in 1807 in the Baroque style.
The high altar has an image of Christ in the upper niche and a carved image of Our Lady of the Conception in the lower niche.
The high altar is made entirely of white and blue wood. It has two side altars.
It has been listed as a National Historic Site by IPHAN since 1938.
Location: Rua da Conceição | Centre | Goiana/PE.
4. Church of Our Lady of Miracles
Probably built in the second half of the 20th century, it has three facades and three doors to access its interior.
It is a curiosity that has attracted the attention of visitors who come to learn a little about the history of Goiana’s heyday in colonial Brazil and to find a typical Germanic church in the most authentic half-timbered style, a type of construction quite common in rural areas of Germany, used as a protection to prevent the accumulation of snow on the roof.
Location: Usina Maravilhas | Goiana/PE.
5. Church of Our Lady of Mercy
Its foundation stone dates back to 22 September 1722. However, it wasn’t completed until 1726.
It has five images, four balconies, two altars and a wooden choir.
On the high altar is the image of Our Lady of the Miracles, and in the sacristy is a Portuguese stone washbasin.
Years later, construction began on the Santa Casa Hospital, which was attached to the church and was the first hospital in Goiana (1759-1931).
The hands of Father Pedro de Souza Tenório, martyr of the Pernambuco Revolution of 1817, are buried in the sanctuary without a tombstone.
The architecture of the church has a simple late baroque composition. It was declared a National Historic Monument by Iphan in 1938.
Location: Rua da Misericórdia | Centre | Goiana/PE.
6. Parish Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the White Men
Built in the 17th century in Baroque style. Originally designed with two bell towers, the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary of White Men did not have enough funds to complete the second tower.
Only the Gospel Tower was completed, as was the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black Men.
The decoration consists of altars with images by Brazilian masters from the 17th and 18th centuries, especially the images of Our Lady of the Rosary, St Joachim, St Joseph, the Dead Lord and St Michael.
In addition to the wealth of images, there are two paintings in the temple: the first, on the altar of the Blessed Sacrament, reproduces the scene of the Last Supper; and the second, depicting the Crucifixion of the Redeemer, in a niche in the choir altar.
It was declared a National Historic Monument by Iphan in 1938.
Location: Avenida Marechal Deodoro da Fonseca | Centre | Goiana/PE.
7. Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of the Black Men
On the site of a small chapel that stood there in the 16th century, the present church was built at the end of the 17th century in authentic Baroque style.
An inscription from 1836 on the façade of the church refers to a commemorative event held that year.
In the past, many religious and folkloric events were held in front of the church.
It has been listed as a National Historic Monument by IPHAN since 1938.
Location: Rua do Rosário | Centre | Goiana/PE.
8. Church and Monastery of Our Lady of Solitude
The style of the convent is a transition from Baroque to Mannerist.
Inside there are three side altars with niches and saints.
On the main altar is the image of Our Lady of Solitude.
Its rarest feature is an alms wheel, which at that time was used to receive orphans and destitute children.
It also has three wooden images, all Brazilian, dating from the 18th century. Next to the church is the St Joseph’s Home for the Elderly.
The complex has been listed by Iphan as a National Historic Site since 1938.
Location: Rua da Soledade | Praça da Soledade | Centre | Goiana/PE.
9. Church of Our Lady Tereza D’Avila of the Third Carmelite Order
The Baroque church of Santa Tereza D’Avila was built in 1753 by the friars of the Third Order of Carmo.
It is part of the Carmelite complex in the historic centre of Goiana.
At the top of the façade is the coat of arms of the Carmelite Order. It has no bell tower.
The interior has a single nave with four side altars and six niches with images of saints. The church was declared a National Historic Monument by Iphan in 1938.
Location: Praça Frei Caneca | Centre | Goiana/PE.
10. Chapel of St Anthony
Its construction began at the end of the 16th century and it has undergone several internal and external transformations. At present it shows aspects of the 1654 renovation in the Gothic style, an architectural movement that originated in France in the 12th century under strong Muslim influence.
In 1680, the body of André Vidal de Negreiros, leader and inspiration of the Pernambuco Uprising (1645-1654) against Dutch colonisation in Brazil, was buried in the chapel.
His remains were later transferred to the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres on Monte dos Guararapes, where they remain today.
Location: Engenho Novo | Unisa das Maravilhas | Goiana/PE.
History – Goiana (PE)
Located in the Mata Norte region of Pernambuco, Goiana was inhabited by the Caeté, Tabajara and Potiguara Indians.
Originating from one of the oldest colonisation centres in the Northeast, it was elevated to the category of village in 1711 and city in 1840.
The city took part in the liberation movements in the Pernambuco Province and became known as the first Brazilian city to free all its slaves by decree of the City Council on March 25, 1888, in anticipation of the Golden Law.
In Itapecerica, one of their villages, the first assembly was held in which Indians demanded representative government in Brazil.
During the 19th century, the city’s commercial activities were of great importance, thanks to the movement of its Harbor, through which goods were transported from the interior.
The town was originally built on land donated by the King of Portugal to Pero Lopes de Souza and belonged to the Captaincy of Itamaracá.
In the second half of the 16th century, it made a name for itself with the foundation of the first sugar mills, despite the hostility of the Tabajara and Caeté Indians. Some of these mills were destroyed by the Indians, which led to the organisation of conquest expeditions by the Portuguese from Paraíba.
Goiana was one of the main poles in the colonisation of the Brazilian territory, completed by the installation of production bases and symbolic equipment (of the State and the Church), making it an important economic and political centre in the 18th century.
It was characterised as a point of convergence of numerous transport routes, due to its functions as a river port for the transport of the production of brazilwood and sugar cane, a trading post and a crossing point of the roads that connected Recife and Olinda with the interior of the state and with other cities of the northeast.
Tourist Guide of the Brazilian Northeast
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