The Mosteiro de São Bento was founded in 1586, making it one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in Brazil. It survived the Dutch occupation of Olinda in the 17th century — the Dutch were Protestant and closed the monastery, but did not destroy it — and was restored and expanded in the 18th century, when the baroque interior took its present form.
The church interior is the reason to visit: a single nave with an ornate carved wooden high altar covered in gold leaf, flanked by painted panels and elaborate wooden saints. The work was produced by local craftsmen in the mid-18th century and is considered some of the finest baroque woodcarving in Northeast Brazil. The monastery is still an active community of Benedictine monks; the church is open for Mass and for visiting at set hours. Sunday Mass includes Gregorian chant sung by the monks, which draws visitors specifically for the sound.