Located far north of the other colonial towns of Minas Gerais and Brazil, Diamantina is dramatically set amongst the beautiful and mountainous landscape of the Serra do Espinhaço. Since it is tucked away in the hills, it is relatively untouched by tourism, making it mysterious and charming. The rich heritage of Diamantina, MG, is inextricably linked to stunning landscapes, making it the perfect place to travel and relax in a hotel amidst the beautiful surroundings.
In Diamantina you can enjoy intense adventure and a refined culture, and there is a lot to see and do there. The natural landscape of the Serra do Espinhaço highlands is the perfect place to take a Diamantina tour or to go hiking to nearby waterfalls and caverns. The city is full of beautifully restored 18th century colonial mansions, houses, baroque churches, and monuments. Most of the elegant buildings and hotels in Diamantina are built on steep slopes and tell the story of the times when diamonds were mined in this region. Precious stones are explored here even today and help to support the economy. You can try our special mining tour experience.
In Diamantina, the Carnival tradition has been going on for centuries. It had its beginning when the blacks and mestizos played along the streets throwing cold water buckets, flour and ink. Later on, the tradition was kept with some balls and parades that happen up until today. The Carnival in Diamantina is one of the best and most popular Carnivals of Brazil, and it is commonly called 'Street Carnival'. Diamantina presents some Carnival Groups, which are celebrated for its irreverence and creativity. They march past the streets of the Historical Center, livening up and amusing the crowd. During the revelry, thousands of people congregate in town and party all night long.
In terms of history, Diamantina has a rich cultural ethos. In 1713, the Bandeirantes came and settled in Arraial do Tijuco. They were explorers who came to Brazil looking for diamonds, minerals and Amerindian slaves. Diamond mining in this region took off in the 1720s, and many battles were waged by the Portuguese at various points in a bid to control the diamond mines. They got lucky with Diamantina since it was in a geographically challenging position. The Portuguese controlled mining here between 1729 and 1845 and it was executed on the ground by contractors. Some tours related to the mining stories are offered as well.
With the free flow of wealth, Diamantina became home to well-heeled aristocrats. They actively encouraged architecture, music and theatre. Being such a shining jewel, it held an enviable position on the Brazilian cultural map. João Fernandes de Oliveira, a rich diamond contractor built a beautiful mansion for his mistress and ex-slave Chica da Silva, and today it is a great place to visit. Diamantina gained the status of a city in 1831. In 1938, more than a century later, it became a part of the Brazilian nation.
Diamantina has raised some famous sons of Brazilian history. Juscelino Kubitschek, a former Brazilian President, was born here in 1902. He was the one who built Brasilia, Brazil's new capital. Under his commendable leadership, Brazil was put on the fast track to success. The brilliant architect Oscar Niemeyer also lived here in the 1950s while he was working on the famous Hotel Tijuco.
Belo Horizonte is close to Diamantina, the state capital of Minas Gerais. The city is the expected way of touristic flow to Diamantina, since the International Airport and the main highways go thought Belo Horizonte. Diamantina also has some important mining towns close by, such as Serro and Milho Verde.
Diamantina is plentiful and there are some great places to stay. Suiting most tastes and budgets, many of the Diamantina hotels have beautiful views of the town and offer authentic rooms with lots of character. You can even use our Diamantina map to choose your Diamantina hotel based on its location.
Don’t wait too long and book your Diamantina hotel right away!
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