Diamantina is a colonial town in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, in South America. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its historic centre is the reason most visitors come: a compact grid of cobbled streets lined with brightly painted colonial houses and ornate baroque churches.
A town shaped by diamonds
The town's name and its character both come from the diamond mining that once drew fortune seekers to this part of Brazil. Walking its streets, you move through a landscape that still reflects that period, and several museums in the centre tell the story of the diamond boom and the lives built around it. For anyone interested in how a mining frontier became a settled town, the setting does much of the explaining.
What a visit offers
- Strolling the cobblestone streets of the historic centre, where the colourful facades and church towers make the walk itself the main attraction.
- Visiting the churches, which show the ornate baroque style of the colonial period.
- Exploring the museums that document the diamond era.
- Seeing the birthplace of former president Juscelino Kubitschek, a notable local landmark.
The town suits a slow, unhurried visit. Plan to spend a good part of a day or more wandering on foot, stopping where the streets and buildings catch your eye.