Diamantina Attractions
Diamantina
Diamantina lies in the Jequitinhonha valley, in the heart of the sertão of Minas Gerais, some 200km/125mi as the crow flies north-east of Belo Horizonte.
Diamantina lies in the Jequitinhonha valley, in the heart of the sertão of Minas Gerais, some 200km/125mi as the crow flies north-east of Belo Horizonte.
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Nossa Senhora do Carmo
Built by a diamond dealer between 1758 and 1765, the church of Nossa Senhora do Camo is locally known as "Chica's church". The church exhibits a masterpiece painting by the artist Jose Soares de Araujo
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Chica da Silva's House
Chica da Silva's House was the home of a slave girl who became the mistress of a diamond dealer. The building today houses the Center for Afro-Brazilian Studies.
Diamond Museum
The house of Padre Rolim, who was involved in the rising of the Inconfidentes, is now occupied by the Museu do Diamante. The collection includes 18th century furniture, Chinese and English porcelain, tabernacles, specimens of minerals, documents on mining in the Diamantina area and instruments of torture used on slaves. The Museum is in Rua Direita, which runs between the Cathedral area and Praça Juscelino Kubitschek (Praça JK).
São Francisco de Assis
São Francisco is the magnificent church of São Francisco de Assis (1766). The high altar is entirely covered with gold leaf. The choir chapel has paintings (1782 onwards) by Soares de Araújo; the ceiling of the sacristy has painting by Silvestro de Almeida Lopes (1795).
Beco da Mota
Beco da Mota
In front of the Carmelite church the Beco da Mota and Beco do Alecrim intersect. The Beco da Mota, once a red light district, is now the town's cultural and intellectual center. The music of the serestas (small groups of accordeon, flute and guitar players) is still heard in Diamantina, which has a strong musical tradition.
In front of the Carmelite church the Beco da Mota and Beco do Alecrim intersect. The Beco da Mota, once a red light district, is now the town's cultural and intellectual center. The music of the serestas (small groups of accordeon, flute and guitar players) is still heard in Diamantina, which has a strong musical tradition.
Bishop's Palace
Bishop's Palace
In Rua do Carmo is the Bishop's Palace (Palácio Episcopal), originally João Fernandes de Oliveira's house, the Casa do Contrato.
In Rua do Carmo is the Bishop's Palace (Palácio Episcopal), originally João Fernandes de Oliveira's house, the Casa do Contrato.
Casa da Glória
Casa da Glória
In Rua da Glória is the Casa da Glória, which consists of two ranges of buildings (respectively 18th and 19th century) linked by a small wooden bridge. It now houses a branch of the Eschwege Institute of Geology.
In Rua da Glória is the Casa da Glória, which consists of two ranges of buildings (respectively 18th and 19th century) linked by a small wooden bridge. It now houses a branch of the Eschwege Institute of Geology.
Casa de Juscelino
Casa de Juscelino
Also in Rua São Francisco is the house in which President Juscelino Kubitschek spent his early years. It displays photographs and mementoes of the President, who was killed in an automobile accident in 1976.
Also in Rua São Francisco is the house in which President Juscelino Kubitschek spent his early years. It displays photographs and mementoes of the President, who was killed in an automobile accident in 1976.
Colonial Buildings
The streets of Diamantina are paved with cobbles (pés de moleque, "negro children's feet") apart from a central strip of large flat stones, the capistrana. There are particularly fine old houses in the historic center of the Arraial do Tijuco, the Rua do Burgalhau, which leads to Praça Barão do Guaicuí, in which the town market, the mercado dos tropeiros, is held. Two buildings of particular interest are the Casa da Chica da Silva and Casa da Glória.
Corpus Christi Festival
During the Corpus Christi festival the streets of the town are decorated with colorful patterns of sawdust, colored sand and flowers such as azaleas and bicos de papagaio (cactus blossoms).
Market Hall
Market Hall
In the municipal Market Hall are sold craft products from the Jequitinhonha valley, cheese, typical local sweets, etc. Close by is the Cooperativa de Artesanato, which specializes in Arraiolos-style wool carpets (Arraiolos is a Portuguese town famed for its carpets).
In the municipal Market Hall are sold craft products from the Jequitinhonha valley, cheese, typical local sweets, etc. Close by is the Cooperativa de Artesanato, which specializes in Arraiolos-style wool carpets (Arraiolos is a Portuguese town famed for its carpets).
Nossa Senhora das Mercês
Beco da Mota runs into Rua das Mercàs, which leads south. On this street is the church of Nossa Senhora das Mercàs (1778-84).
Our Lady of the Rosary of the Blacks Church
N.S. do Rosário dos Pretos
North-east of the market square in Rua do Rosário, which links Praça Barão do Guaicuí with Largo do Rosário, is Diamantina's oldest church, Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos (Our Lady of the Rosary of the Blacks), built in 1728. The choir chapel has wall paintings (1779) by José Soares de Araújo, who worked in the Diamantina area from 1765 onwards. The Festa do Rosário (Festival of the Rosary) is celebrated here around October 7th.
North-east of the market square in Rua do Rosário, which links Praça Barão do Guaicuí with Largo do Rosário, is Diamantina's oldest church, Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos (Our Lady of the Rosary of the Blacks), built in 1728. The choir chapel has wall paintings (1779) by José Soares de Araújo, who worked in the Diamantina area from 1765 onwards. The Festa do Rosário (Festival of the Rosary) is celebrated here around October 7th.
Prefecture
Prefecture
In Rua da Quitanda, to the west of the Cathedral, are the Prefecture, housed in the 18th century Casa da Intendància, and the Antìnio Torres Library (18th century books and manuscripts), in the Casa da Quitanda, which also dates from the 18th century.
In Rua da Quitanda, to the west of the Cathedral, are the Prefecture, housed in the 18th century Casa da Intendància, and the Antìnio Torres Library (18th century books and manuscripts), in the Casa da Quitanda, which also dates from the 18th century.
Diamantina Surroundings
Biribiri
Biribiri
10km/6mi from Diamantina, situated at an altitude of 1300m/4265ft in the Serra do Espinhaço, is Biribiri, which grew up in the 19th century round a weaving mill. Since the factory closed down in 1973 Biribiri has been a ghost town: its thirty settlers' houses, a church, a canteen, a warehouse, a school and various other buildings now stand empty, providing an ideal setting for such films as "Chica da Silva".
10km/6mi from Diamantina, situated at an altitude of 1300m/4265ft in the Serra do Espinhaço, is Biribiri, which grew up in the 19th century round a weaving mill. Since the factory closed down in 1973 Biribiri has been a ghost town: its thirty settlers' houses, a church, a canteen, a warehouse, a school and various other buildings now stand empty, providing an ideal setting for such films as "Chica da Silva".
Caminho dos Escravos
Caminho dos Escravos
The military road which linked Diamantina with northern Minas Gerais is known as the Caminho dos Escravos ("Slaves' Road") after the slaves who built it. It can be seen 2km/1.3mi from Diamantina on the Biribiri road.
The military road which linked Diamantina with northern Minas Gerais is known as the Caminho dos Escravos ("Slaves' Road") after the slaves who built it. It can be seen 2km/1.3mi from Diamantina on the Biribiri road.
Cruz da Serra
Cruz da Serra
4km/2.5mi from Diamantina on the road to Araçuaí da Cruz is the Cruz da Serra, from which there are views over the whole of the surrounding area.
4km/2.5mi from Diamantina on the road to Araçuaí da Cruz is the Cruz da Serra, from which there are views over the whole of the surrounding area.
Inhaí - Church of Santana
Church of Santana
In the Inhaí district is the 18th century church of Santana (St Anne). The paintings on the ceiling and the choir chapel, in unusually bright colors, are by José Soares de Araújo.
In the Inhaí district is the 18th century church of Santana (St Anne). The paintings on the ceiling and the choir chapel, in unusually bright colors, are by José Soares de Araújo.
Itapanhoacanga - Sao Jose, Brazil
São José
22km/13.5mi south of Serro is Itapanhoacanga, with the church of São José, which has ceiling paintings of 1787 by Manuel Antìnio da Fonseca.
22km/13.5mi south of Serro is Itapanhoacanga, with the church of São José, which has ceiling paintings of 1787 by Manuel Antìnio da Fonseca.
Salitre Cave
Salitre Cave
Furnas
7km/4.5mi east of Diamantina on the Extração road, is the Salitre Cave. 9km/5.6mi from the town center are the rock formations known as the Furnas ("Caves").
Furnas
7km/4.5mi east of Diamantina on the Extração road, is the Salitre Cave. 9km/5.6mi from the town center are the rock formations known as the Furnas ("Caves").
