Diamantina
Historic Centre Of The Town Of Diamantina, UNESCO World Heritage Site Inscribed 1999; Centre Of Brazil'S Eighteenth Century Diamond Rush · Diamantina, Minas Gerais
Diamantina is a colonial town in the rocky highlands of northern Minas Gerais that grew rich in the eighteenth century on diamonds, and it is one of the most harmonious old towns in Brazil; UNESCO listed its centre in 1999. Its steep stone streets are lined with whitewashed houses with brightly painted windows and wooden balconies, and its churches are simpler than Ouro Preto's. Two figures dominate its story. Chica da Silva, an enslaved woman who became the partner of the richest diamond contractor and one of the most powerful people in the town, is remembered in her house, now a museum. And Juscelino Kubitschek, the president who built Brasília, was born here; his modest childhood home is also a museum. On some weekend evenings the town holds a Vesperata: musicians play from the balconies of the Rua da Quitanda while the conductor stands in the street below, a tradition unique to Diamantina. The surrounding Serra do Espinhaço has waterfalls and old mining trails. It is far from the big cities, about five hours from Belo Horizonte.
Centro Histórico, Diamantina, MG, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The town itself is always open and safe to walk in the evening by Brazilian standards, which is part of its appeal. Museums, including the houses of Chica da Silva and Juscelino Kubitschek and the Diamond Museum, keep daytime hours, and many close on Mondays; several also close for lunch, so a late-morning start can cut your museum day short. Churches open irregularly, often only around Masses, and some are closed for restoration. The Vesperata runs on selected Saturday evenings, mainly in the dry months from roughly April to October; it is not every weekend, and dates are published by the town, so confirm before you plan the trip around it. The Mercado Velho is liveliest on Saturday mornings. Carnival here is big, student-led and loud, and fills every bed. Waterfalls and trails outside town have no fixed hours but should be done in daylight. Confirm museum days and Vesperata dates locally.