Belém's 18th-century neoclassical cathedral, built on the foundations of an earlier Jesuit chapel.
The cathedral faces a small square with views down to the waterfront below. It is a short walk from both Forte do Presépio and Ver-o-Peso, making it easy to include on any tour of the old town.
Services are held regularly, and the cathedral remains an active parish. Outside of service times you can walk in freely. The sacristy sometimes has additional artworks on display.
A story
The Catedral da Sé was completed in 1748, making it one of the oldest churches in the Amazon basin. It replaced a Jesuit chapel dating to 1616 — the same year the city was founded — and sits on a bluff overlooking the river at the edge of Cidade Velha. The neoclassical facade is imposing without being fussy, and the interior holds a collection of Portuguese azulejo tiles and 18th-century religious paintings worth a look.