The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows stands at the heart of João Pessoa's old town and carries the city's original name — it was called Nossa Senhora das Neves when it was founded in 1585. The current neoclassical building dates from the nineteenth century, but the site has been a place of worship since the colonial era. The interior is calm and cool, with painted vaulting and an ornate altar that rewards a few minutes of stillness.
The cathedral sits on Praça João Pessoa (commonly called the Pátio), the main public square of the historic centre. The square is a good place to orient yourself before exploring the tight grid of streets around it, where you'll find some of the finest colonial architecture in the northeast.