The church was severely damaged during the fire set to Olinda by the Dutch in 1631. Reconstruction in the 18th century gave it Gothic elements, but several styles have influenced it through successive renovations.
The church's many rich details include the facade in a mix of Baroque and Colonial Renaissance and the main door - the only element which survived the 1631 fire; chapels in Baroque style with gold leaf inlays; the imposing dome; the jacaranda furniture. A second tower was built in 1713 when the church's status was raised to that of a cathedral after Olinda was incorporated as a town.