Stone paving
Laid by the enslaved.
Ricardo Moraleida — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Gfar33 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · MTur Destinos — Public domain · Ricardo Moraleida — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Gfar33 — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Caminho dos Escravos, «Road of the Enslaved», is one of Diamantina's most important historic and natural sites: a track paved with stones by enslaved people in the early 19th century, on the orders of the Intendant Manuel Ferreira da Câmara Bittencourt, to move diamonds between Arraial do Tijuco, today's Diamantina, and the district of Mendanha; muleteers also used it to carry goods. The road leaves Diamantina over the Serra dos Cristais, part of the Espinhaço range, its first stop being the route marker at the top of the hill, and about 300 metres of the original paving survive near the town. In all it runs some 20 to 25 km, depending on the source, through cerrado, streams, viewpoints and waterfalls. The section near town makes a short outing; the whole route is a full day on foot, best with a local guide.
Laid by the enslaved.
Above the town.
Mining history.
Leaves Diamantina over the Serra dos Cristais towards Mendanha
About 20 to 25 km; some 300 m of original paving near town can be seen on a short walk.
