House of Chica da Silva, Portuguese colonial mansion in Diamantina, Brazil.
The House of Chica da Silva is an 18th-century residence in Diamantina featuring wooden beams, adobe walls, a four-sloped roof, and a lateral veranda with Moorish-influenced latticed panels. Inside, wide wooden floorboards and distinctive ceiling constructions reflect the craftsmanship of the period.
The property belonged to Chica da Silva and João Fernandes de Oliveira between 1763 and 1771 during Brazil's diamond mining period. This era transformed Diamantina into a center of wealth and influence in the region.
The house displays Portuguese colonial architecture mixed with Brazilian adaptations, visible in wide wooden floorboards and distinctive ceiling designs. This blend shows how European building traditions adjusted to local conditions and climate in the new colony.
The National Heritage Institute manages the property and offers guided tours featuring paintings that document the life and times of its former residents. Visitors can explore the rooms and see how people lived during this wealthy period of the region's history.
The property once contained a private chapel dedicated to Saint Quiteria, with only the doorway and cross remaining from the original structure. These fragments remind visitors of the deep religious devotion that wealthy families built into their homes during this era.
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