The colonial town of Diamantina is situated about 300 kilometers north of the state capital city of Belo Horizonte. It's pretty much evident that its status as a center of diamond mining pretty much shaped its history and influenced its culture and urban fabric to this day. I reckon that you can see through its history how controlling and authoritarian the Portuguese crown was at the time.

I visited Diamantina in September 2022 and stayed for 2 nights. I arrived at the town’s bus station late at night after a 6-hour bus ride from Belo Horizonte. It was a quick but steep descent to the town centre from the bus station, so travelers may opt to ride a taxi. I know that having one full day may be enough to cover the main sights as the town centre itself is small and compact, but I reckoned that staying for two to three days is ideal to properly appreciate and immerse in the OUV of the town. I ticked off the following sights on my first full day, which afforded me a leisurely walk around the town the day after.

• Catedral de Santo Antonio – seat of the archdiocese of Diamantina and is also known as the Sé.
• Mercado Municipal – a plaza surrounded by shops and establishments housed in colourful buildings.
• Casa da Chica da Silva – the former mansion of the uber-rich Joao Fernandes de Oliveira and his partner, Chica da Silva, a former slave. The Museu do Diamante was operating in the Casa at the time of the visit. I was not certain why the Museu do Diamante was closed that time, but possibly due to renovation.
• Casa da Glória – comprised of two buildings that are connected by a blue 2nd-story passageway.
• Several churches such as the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos, Igreja Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, and the cute Igreja do Amparo.

What I have noticed was that church exteriors were relatively toned down and that they somehow blend with the look and feel of civic buildings. This observation aligns with that of the site’s brief synthesis, although I cannot personally say that this feature is unique to the town. Overall, Diamantina is a charming colonial town that boasts beautiful and well-preserved plazas, buildings, and cobblestone streets. Its isolation provides a more authentic feel—possibly a good escape from the tourists and bustling commerce found in Belo Horizonte and Ouro Preto.