Diamantina

Diamantina is a colonial city in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Its 17th-century streets and buildings are witnesses to the country's diamond and gold digging ages, and its historic center has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Get in

Distances from:

• Belo Horizonte - 297 Km (180 mi)
• Rio de Janeiro - 732 Km (450 mi)
• Brasília - 724 Km (450 mi)
• São Paulo - 881 Km (550 mi)

By bus

The bus station (rodoviária) is at Largo Dom João, 134. (38) 3531-9176. There are frequent buses from Belo Horizonte by companies São Geraldo and Pássaro Verde (websites in Portuguese only). There is also one daily arrival from São Paulo.

See

Childhood home of Juscelino Kubitschek

Igreja São Francisco

• Capela Imperial do Amparo, Rua do Amparo. Tu-Sa 9AM-noon and 2PM-6PM, Su 8AM-noon. Construction on this chapel began in 1773 and stretched over the next 4 decades. R$1. 
• Casa de Juscelino, Rua São Francisco 241, ☏ +55 38 3531-3607. This former residence of ex-president Juscelino Kubitschek houses a museum dedicated to his life. 
• Casarão do Fórum. One of the most important pieces of colonial architecture, this structure was built as a residence, and later used as a meeting hall for the city council. 
• Diamond Museum (Museu do Diamante), Rua Direita 14, ☏ +55 38 3531-1382. Holds a collection of artifacts from the area's colonial diamond-mining days. 
• Igreja do Bonfim, Rua do Bonfim. Completed sometime before 1771. R$1. 
• Igreja das Mercês, Rua das Mercês. M-F 1PM-5PM, Sa Su 8AM-11AM and noon-5PM. Completed in 1784, this church still holds mass on the fourth Saturday of the month at 5PM. R$1. 
• Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Rua do Carmo. Tu-Sa 8AM-noon and 2PM-6PM, Su 8AM-noon. R$2. 
• Igreja São Francisco, Rua São Francisco. Built by the Franciscans in the early 1770s. The interior is being restored. 

Do

• Watch the Vesperatas - open shows of traditional music bands, a large event that takes place on the colonial Quitanda street twice a month (from April to October).

Eat

• Al-Árabe, ☏ +55 38 3531-2281. Praça Dr. Prado, 124. 
• O Garimpeiro, Av. da Saudade, 265, ☏ +55 38 3532-1040. 
• Trattoria La Dolce Vita, Rua Vieira Coutro, 232, ☏ +55 38 3531-8485. 

Drink

• Espaço B Café, ☏ +55 38 3531-6005. Beco da Tecla, 31. 

Sleep

• Pousada do Garimpo, Av. da Saudade, 265, ☏ +55 38 3532-1040. 
• Pouso da Chica, Rua Macau de Cima, 115, ☏ +55 38 3531-7349. 
• Tijuco, Rua Macau do Meio, 211, ☏ +55 38 3531-1022. 
• Pouso da Chica, Rua Macau de Cima, 115, ☏ +55 38 3531-6190. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. 

Go next

• Biribiri - A well preserved if tiny 19th-century industrial village, 15km from the city.
• Serro