Diamantina

Diamantina, in Minas Gerais¹ State, Southeast Region, Brasil (Brazil) was founded as a diamond mining town in the Serra da Espinhaço (Backbone Mountains) above the Velhas River. There are 40 thousand people in the city.² The city's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, honoring its Portuguese-Baroque architecture. The streets there are paved artfully and the facades of some are brightly colored. Sights include the 19th century Old Market Hall, a blue and white covered bridged called the Passadiço and a fountain near the cathedral called the Rua Direita. Folklore says drinking from the fountain means you are sure to return.³

External references

paved street in the old part of Diamantina

Footnotes

1. Could translates into English as 'General Mines.'
2. world-gazetteer.com, accessed 12/2/2012.
3. The information about the historic center comes from UNESCO, World Heritage Sites (Firefly Books, 2010).