Diamantina combines a historic center whose streets follow the steep terrain with a close relationship between built heritage and protected nature. Museums and historic sites offer further perspectives on the city. Diamantina is particularly interesting if you’d like to explore architecture, mining history, and the landscape together.
The Historic Center: Topography and Baroque Architecture
The Historic Center of Diamantina rises 150 m along the side of a steep valley. Its winding, uneven streets follow the natural topography. The baroque architecture is also characterized by wooden structures and geometric details. Regularly arranged houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, colorful façades, and gray cobbled streets complete the picture. Orderly rows of houses thus stand alongside a street layout that adapts to the terrain.
The Cristais Mountains are protected as a natural asset and are considered an inseparable part of Diamantina’s historic site. Their provisional protection was approved on December 14, 2000, and permanent protection on November 19, 2010. The protected mountains, as well as the houses and streets, therefore shape the character of the historic site.
Museum and City History
Founded in 1954, the Museu do Diamante preserves and conveys the history of Diamantina, formerly known as Arraial do Tijuco, as well as the developments that shaped the city, particularly gold and diamond mining. If you’re interested in this history, the museum offers a concrete way to explore the subjects that shaped the place.
The museum’s collection and team are temporarily housed at Casa da Chica da Silva. The museum’s institutional, educational, and cultural activities, as well as a permanent exhibition, take place there until its historic headquarters have been restored. As the temporary location may change, check the site and visiting arrangements before your trip.
Casa da Chica da Silva also has a history of its own: from 1763 to 1771, it was Chica da Silva’s residence. A collection of paintings in the house depicts her. The history of its former resident and the museum’s current temporary location thus come together at this site.
Places of Remembrance and Railway History
The Memorial do Tropeiro e do Ferreiro, a tourist attraction, is located in Mercado Velho. It’s best to confirm current visiting arrangements locally. Another facet of the area’s history is revealed by the Trilha Verde da Maria Fumaça: it follows the former railway branch that connected Corinto with Diamantina. The line was laid in 1909, opened in 1914, and completely closed in 1973.
Landscape and Architecture Nearby
Outside the historic center, nearby destinations also differ considerably in what they offer. Gruta do Salitre is 9 km from Diamantina. Its features include quartzite rock formations, an archaeological site, and cliffs up to 80 m high. Parque Estadual do Biribiri is 15 km from Diamantina and offers several waterfalls and numerous rock inscriptions.
Vila de Biribiri is also 15 km from Diamantina. Its preserved church and the factory workers’ homes form an architectural ensemble recognized by IEPHA. You can choose between different areas of interest: rock formations and archaeology at Gruta do Salitre, waterfalls and rock inscriptions at Parque Estadual do Biribiri, or Vila’s architectural ensemble. This lets you select the landscape and cultural themes that interest you most for your trip.
Discover more destinations: Rio Pomba, Salinas, Congonhas, São Sebastião Do Rio Verde, Campanha, Belo Horizonte, Carangola, Mário Campos.
For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.
