Historic Centre of Diamantina
Centro Histórico de Diamantina
A UNESCO-listed colonial town where two-story houses with colorful doors and windows and wooden balconies line stone-paved slopes, backed by barren mountains.
Diamantina was originally the village of Tijuco. In the 18th century, the discovery of diamonds made it a “Diamond District” under direct Portuguese Crown rule, and it left a large body of colonial-era architecture. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1999. The old town is built into a hillside, with stone-paved slopes running in every direction. White walls are paired with blue, green and red doors and windows and carved wooden balconies, blending into the rocky landscape of the Espinhaço Range. The Cathedral Square, Rua da Quitanda and the old market area are the most concentrated. Everything is explored on foot. The slopes are steep and the stones slippery, so wear non-slip shoes. The old town itself is free, while the churches and museums charge small entry fees.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Casa de Chica da Silva
- Casa de Juscelino Kubitschek
- Museu do Diamante
- Rua da Quitanda & Vesperata
- Catedral Metropolitana de Santo Antônio
- Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
- Igreja de São Francisco de Assis
- Mercado Velho