The lattice veranda
In the style of its day.
MTur Destinos — Public domain · Warleycajazeiro — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Raquel Mendes Silva — CC BY-SA 4.0 · MTur Destinos — Public domain
The House of Chica da Silva is the two-storey colonial mansion where Chica da Silva lived from 1763 to 1771 with her companion João Fernandes de Oliveira, the contractor who ran the diamond trade for the Portuguese Crown. Born enslaved and later freed, she became a symbol of social rise in colonial Brazil and inspired legends, a famous 1976 film by Cacá Diegues and a 1996 television series. The house was built in the second half of the 18th century with timber posts and walls of adobe and wattle-and-daub, and has a side veranda with lattice panels in the Moorish-influenced style of the time. Excavations during its restoration recovered some 30,000 objects from the early 19th century, including fragments of clay pipes that show African influence on daily life. Listed as national heritage and home to the regional heritage office, it can be visited free, guided or on your own; there is no period furniture, but an exhibition of modern paintings about her life.
In the style of its day.
From slavery to influence.
Adobe and timber.
Central Diamantina, Minas Gerais
No, there is no period furniture; it shows modern paintings about her life, and entry is free.
