The Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Amparo was built in the late 17th century on one of Olinda's upper terraces, and its position gives it views that rival the Alto da Sé. The building suffered damage over the centuries and has been restored multiple times; the current exterior is largely 18th-century work, with the characteristic white-painted facade and blue tile trim of Pernambucano colonial architecture.
The church now operates as a museum of sacred art, with a collection of paintings, sculptures, and liturgical objects from the colonial period. The pieces range from local workshop production to imports from Portugal and Portugal's other colonies. The collection is not large, but the building itself — and the terrace in front of it with its sweeping view of the Atlantic — justifies the stop. The church is one of several in Olinda that double as museums; if you have time for only one, the Convento de São Francisco is the priority, but the Amparo is worth it if you are already in the neighbourhood.