Best things to do in Diamantina

Diamantina Essentials

Diamantina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, preserves the architectural legacy of Brazil's 18th-century diamond boom. This selection explores the city’s winding cobblestone streets, featuring the childhood home of President Juscelino Kubitschek and the residence of Chica da Silva. The list highlights baroque churches like Nossa Senhora do Carmo, known for its unique rear-facing tower, and the Diamond Museum's colonial artifacts. Beyond the historic center, the natural pools of Cachoeira da Sentinela and the panoramic Mirante da Cruzinha offer views of the Serra dos Cristais landscape.

Diamantina Essentials — Map

Reziere Degobi / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Casa de Juscelino Kubitschek

Preserved childhood home of Brazil's 21st president. The 19th-century timber-framed building contains personal artifacts, photographs, and furniture documenting Kubitschek’s early life in Diamantina.

Halleypo / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Nossa Senhora do Rosário

18th-century church built by the Brotherhood of Black Men. It features a traditional colonial facade and an interior with baroque altars, standing as one of the oldest religious structures in the city.

Raquel Mendes Silva / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Casa de Chica da Silva

18th-century residence of the influential former slave Chica da Silva and diamond contractor João Fernandes de Oliveira. The colonial mansion features characteristic latticed balconies and period architecture.

Josue Marinho / CC BY 3.0

D

Casarão do Fórum

Historic colonial manor house currently serving as the local courthouse. The building is a prominent example of the city’s 18th-century civil architecture.

Ministério da Cultura / CC BY 2.0

E

Museu do Diamante

Housed in a 1789 building, this museum displays mining equipment, colonial furniture, and sacred art related to the region's diamond extraction history during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Josue Marinho / CC BY 3.0

F

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo

18th-century baroque church notable for its unique single bell tower positioned at the rear of the building. The interior contains ornate gold-leaf carvings and works attributed to local colonial artists.

Regina Giovanini Geraldino / CC-BY-SA

G

Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bomfim dos Militares

Small colonial church dating from the 18th century, traditionally associated with the local military brotherhood. It features a simple facade and characteristic baroque elements.

Francisco Tomaz / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Igreja Nossa Senhora das Mercês

18th-century church featuring a single side tower and a traditional baroque interior. It is located on a hill, offering views of the surrounding historic district.

Regina Giovanini Geraldino / CC-BY-SA

I

Mercado Velho – Centro Cultural David Ribeiro

Former marketplace built in 1835, recognizable by its wooden arches. It now functions as a cultural center hosting markets for regional crafts, food, and traditional music performances.

J

Cachoeira da Sentinela

Natural waterfall located in the Serra dos Cristais. The site features shallow rock pools and cascades suitable for bathing, set within the rocky landscape of Biribiri State Park.

K

Teatro Santa Isabel

Constructed in 1837 on the site of a former prison, this is one of Minas Gerais' oldest theaters. It serves as a venue for local cultural events and performances.

L

Mirante da Cruzinha

Elevated viewpoint providing panoramic views of Diamantina’s historic center and the surrounding rugged peaks of the Serra do Espinhaço mountain range.