Home » Bahia Travel Guide » Chapada Diamantina Travel Guide » Architectural Style of the Chapada Diamantina, Bahia: A Guide

The architectural style of the Chapada Diamantina, in Bahia, has its roots in mining. In the region’s historic towns, such as Lençóis, Mucugê and Rio de Contas, the colonial buildings feature simple, colourful façades, wooden window frames, adobe or stone walls, and churches with Baroque and Neoclassical features. Rio de Contas, the colonial buildings feature simple, colourful façades, wooden window frames, adobe or stone walls, churches with Baroque and Neoclassical features, and cobbled streets. The historic centres of Lençóis (1973), Mucugê (1980), Rio de Contas (1980) and Igatu (2000) have been listed by IPHAN. Updated in October 2026.

Gold and, from 1844 onwards, diamonds attracted residents and traders and funded townhouses, churches and theatres. The architecture also adapted to the rugged terrain and the materials found in the mountains themselves: stone, wood and earth. This guide highlights the main buildings in each town. To understand the context, read the history of gold mining in the Chapada Diamantina and the history of the region’s settlement.

Adobe is a brick made from earth and plant fibres mixed with water, moulded and left to dry in the open air, without being fired.

Architecture of the Chapada Diamantina: history, tradition and beauty

The region’s architectural style draws on influences from the local culture, the climate, the materials available and Portuguese colonisation, as reflected in the colonial style. Three types of building epitomise this heritage.

1. Mud-brick houses: tradition and sustainability

One example of vernacular architecture is the taipa house, also known as a mud house. A hand-built taipa house is a wooden structure with walls made of mud, sometimes mixed with straw. The thick walls help to keep the interior cooler in hot weather, and the building as a whole has a rustic charm that blends in with the landscape.

2. Colonial architecture and the history of diamonds

The colonial style is reminiscent of the period when the region was a route for the gold and diamond trade. In Igatu, amongst rocky outcrops, the 19th-century stone houses preserve the memory of the gold rush. The colonial buildings feature colourful façades, spacious verandas and wooden windows – elements that tell the story of mining.

3. Churches and chapels: architectural treasures

Religious architecture plays a central role. There are ancient churches and chapels with Baroque altars, religious paintings and gilded details, all of which evoke the colonial past. Walking through the cobbled streets, amongst the houses, squares and churches, is a journey back to a time when the region prospered on gold and diamonds.

Architectural highlights of the towns in the Chapada Diamantina

1. Rio de Contas
2. Igatu
3. Bed sheets
4. Mucugê
5. Morro do Chapéu

1. Rio de Contas: architectural and historical heritage in the Chapada Diamantina

The architectural ensemble of Rio de Contas was listed by IPHAN in 1980 and comprises around 287 buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, featuring squares and streets laid out in the colonial style, public and religious monuments carved from stone, adobe houses and Baroque churches. Some of these properties had already been listed individually since 1958, such as the Mother Church and the ruins of the Church of Santana. The highlights are:

• Town Hall and Prison (known as the Barão de Macaúbas Courthouse)
• Parish Church of the Blessed Sacrament
• Santana Church (ruins)
• São Carlos Theatre

Generally speaking, the monuments are made of stone and the houses of adobe, with white façades and blue window frames. Guidebooks and news reports compare this area to Paraty (RJ). In the surrounding area, there are remains of dams, aqueducts, tunnels and galleries, bearing witness to the intense gold mining activity.

The town lies to the south of the Chapada Diamantina, near Pico das Almas, and has a regular, uniform layout. The village of Nossa Senhora do Livramento das Minas do Rio de Contas was founded in the 1720s, and a royal decree of 1745 ordered the relocation of the town centre to its present site. It began as a mining centre and went on to become an important regional centre. See the Rio de Contas guide and the history of the town.

Architectural monuments in Rio de Contas

1. Town Hall and Prison
2. Parish Church of the Blessed Sacrament
3. São Carlos Theatre
4. House on Rua Barão de Macaúbas
5. Santana Church (ruins)

1. Town Hall and Prison in Rio de Contas

Known as the Barão de Macaúbas Forum, it is a building dating from the mid-18th or early 19th century, a late example of a town hall and prison. It has two storeys, a hipped roof and a rectangular floor plan with interconnected rooms. The ground floor housed the prison, the jailer’s quarters and the courtroom. It stands between two squares and stands out for its scale and layout.

2. Parish Church of the Blessed Sacrament

Built in the second half of the 18th century as the town’s parish church, it has been a listed building since 1958 and is regarded, according to experts quoted by IPHAN, as the most significant example of religious architecture in the Bahian hinterland, with a strong Baroque influence. The floor plan resembles a ‘T’, with a single nave, a choir, a chancel, two sacristies and a tower. The foundations and the boarded-up galleries suggest that the building was not completed as originally planned. The ceiling of the chancel features an Italian-inspired illusionist painting. The restoration of the church and the São Carlos Theatre was completed in December 2014.

3. São Carlos Theatre

The São Carlos Theatre was opened in 1892 – the date inscribed above the entrance – and is described as one of the oldest historic theatres in the interior of Bahia. It has hosted local groups and productions from other parts of the country and today serves as a venue for educational and cultural activities.

4. House on Rua Barão de Macaúbas

Given its features – comprising a dwelling and a shop – it is thought to date from the mid-19th century, a common type of building on the eastern slopes of the Chapada Diamantina and the Serra Geral during the diamond-mining era. The house has a self-supporting structure of masonry and adobe and an almost square floor plan, with a service annex at the rear. One section housed the shop, with a separate entrance, whilst the other served as the residence, featuring front and rear halls, separated by bedrooms and alcoves along a central corridor. The moulded leaf-shaped ornamentation around the windows is particularly striking.

5. Santana Church (ruins)

The church dates from the first half of the 18th century and stands in the former Santana Square, now known as Praça Duque de Caxias. It is set back from the neighbouring buildings and is preceded by a churchyard connected to the nave by a wide flight of steps. It is built of stone masonry and was never completed: work ceased around 1850, when the population moved to other mining areas.

It has three naves and a chancel connected to the sacristies by arches, and the tall windows at the back of the chancel lend the space a distinctive appearance.

The frontispiece has three arched entrance doors, with an equal number of windows set above them, and the stone walls are unplastered, except for the pediment and the upper part of the façade.

2. Igatu: Bahia’s ‘Machu Picchu’ and its legacy of diamond mining

The architectural, urban and landscape complex of Igatu, in the district of Andaraí, was listed by IPHAN in 2000. Known as Xique-Xique do Igatu, the ‘City of Stones’ and the ‘Machu Picchu of Bahia’, the village preserves the ruins of stone dwellings, which bear witness to the gold-mining era. The protected area comprises around 200 properties, and the listing includes the ruins between the bridge over the River Coisa Boa and the trail leading to the old gold mine, as well as the village’s original 19th-century centre.

A living museum of mining

Igatu is regarded as an open-air museum. The Arte e Memória Gallery houses tools used by gold prospectors and enslaved people, which illustrate the harshness of labour in the mines. The village is nestled amongst rocky outcrops, rivers and waterfalls, and its 19th-century rough-stone houses have earned the landscape the nickname ‘Machu Picchu of Bahia’, in reference to the Inca city.

The decline of the village

At the height of the gold rush, Igatu had a population of over 10,000, according to IPHAN. As mining declined, most of the population left, and mining operations ceased in 1996. Today, the village has around 380 residents, according to IPHAN, and tourism is the main activity. In 2026, the Conviver Programme, run by the Faculty of Architecture at UFBA, is providing technical assistance for the conservation of listed and inhabited houses, organising workshops with master builders specialising in stone walls.

Igatu today: tourism and culture

The village attracts visitors interested in historical and cultural tourism, ecotourism and adventure. Igatu is situated in the municipality of Andaraí, the birthplace of the writer Herberto Sales (1917–1999), author of Cascalho (1944), a novel about the power of the colonels in the gold-mining region.

Architectural monuments in Igatu

1. Stone houses in Igatu
2. Church and Cemetery of St Sebastian

1. Stone houses in Igatu

The stone houses, many of which lie in ruins, are the village’s main tourist attraction and show how the prospectors used stone from the mountains themselves.

2. St Sebastian’s Church and Cemetery

The Church of São Sebastião and the cemetery, together with the access path, are among the properties listed by IPHAN in Igatu.

3. Lençóis: the architectural and scenic treasure of the Chapada Diamantina

The architectural and landscape complex of Lençóis was listed by IPHAN in 1973 (December 1973, according to a 2026 news report). The town is situated in the central-western region of Bahia, in a natural amphitheatre on the eastern slope of the Serra do Sincorá, and IPHAN places it within the Chapada Diamantina National Park. The protected area comprises around 570 properties, mostly 19th-century houses and townhouses, with colourful buildings and winding streets.

The wealth of diamonds and the rise of Lençóis

Between 1845 and 1871, according to IPHAN, Lençóis was the world’s largest producer of diamonds and the third most important city in Bahia. It became a trading hub: it exported diamonds to Europe and imported luxury goods, and France established a vice-consulate there. The first two-storey townhouses began to appear, and the buildings were constructed using a variety of techniques, primarily adobe and stone, as well as wooden structures with hand-rammed earth walls. The vibrant façades form the visual identity of the town. Read also the history of Lençóis.

Urban planning and architecture: the evolution of space

Unlike other historic towns, Lençóis does not have a dominant landmark. Its growth followed the mining industry and the rugged terrain, with irregular streets, wide avenues and small squares. The settlement arose from the union of two centres: Serrano, on high ground beside a set of rapids, and São Félix, on the opposite bank of the river. The bridge built in 1860, constructed to provide work for the unemployed during the great drought of 1859 to 1862, connected the two sides.

Horácio de Matos Square and the grand townhouses

The grand townhouses in the former Praça do Mercado – now Praça Horácio de Matos – date from this period, and five of them are listed buildings. The Casa do Conselho was demolished in the 1940s to make way for the Post and Telegraph Office. The streets reflect the past: some have natural stone paving, others are paved with irregular stones that form patterns, and the newer ones follow the colonial style, winding up and down the slopes.

Lençóis today: a living heritage

Lençóis is one of the most popular destinations in Bahia, with colonial houses, walking trails, waterfalls and caves. In November 2025, IPHAN recognised the Jarê of the Chapada Diamantina – a religious tradition of Afro-Brazilian origin with a terreiro in Lençóis – as part of Brazil’s cultural heritage. In July 2026, the town was nominated for the UN World Tourism Organisation’s ‘World’s Best Tourist Villages’ award, with the result expected in December. Also in July, IPHAN asked the local council for a structural stability report on the stone bridge, following reports of wear and tear at the base of one of its piers.

Architectural monuments in Lençóis

1. Horácio de Matos Square
2. Municipal Public Market
3. Bridge over the River Lençóis
4. Municipal Council and IPHAN Technical Office
5. Arena Theatre
6. Church of Our Lady of the Rosary
7. Church of Our Lord of the Steps
8. Afrânio Peixoto Cultural Centre
9. Public Archives

1. Horácio de Matos Square

It is the city’s most important public space, a hub for celebrations and forró dancing. The name honours Colonel Horácio de Matos.

2. Municipal Public Market

The Municipal Public Market is one of the properties protected by IPHAN as part of the complex.

3. Bridge over the River Lençóis

Built in 1860, the bridge connects the two banks and is the only link between the two parts of the town divided by the river.

4. Town Hall and the IPHAN Technical Office building

The building that houses the IPHAN office is a listed building and, according to tourist guides, was the former Town Hall, dating from the 1860s.

5. Arena Theatre

The Arena Theatre is also included on the list of protected assets within the complex.

6. Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

Described in tourist guides as the largest church in the Bahian hinterland, it is one of two churches on the city’s list of protected heritage sites. The date of construction varies depending on the source.

7. Church of Nosso Senhor dos Passos

The church forms part of the listed complex and is linked to the Senhor dos Passos festival, which features on the town’s calendar.

8. Afrânio Peixoto Cultural Centre

The Afrânio Peixoto Cultural Centre, which includes the amphitheatre, is a listed building and serves as a cultural venue.

9. Public Archives

The Public Archives are also on the list of properties protected by IPHAN.

4. Mucugê: an architectural and natural treasure of the Chapada Diamantina

The architectural and landscape complex of Mucugê, notably the Byzantine cemetery, was listed by IPHAN in 1980. It was in Mucugê that, in 1844, the prospector Cazuza do Prado became suspicious of the gravel from the River Mucugê, and the town became known as the first place in Bahia where diamonds of real value were found. The town’s architectural heritage comprises 300 single-storey houses and 10 two-storey houses, as well as two historic churches.

Urban planning: ‘L’-shaped growth

Mucugê lies in a wide, flat valley, surrounded by hillsides. The town has grown into an ‘L’ shape, with a church at each end. Rua Direita do Comércio, which runs parallel to the Mucugê stream, is regarded as the original centre, and a small square at the junction of the streets reinforces its character as a single, cohesive centre.

Colonial housing and urban expansion

The listed site encompasses the entire urban area and the cemetery, situated on the hill, some distance from the original town centre. The colonial mansions, dating from the late 18th and 19th centuries, are built of adobe or stone. Mucugê stands out for its well-preserved character, its clean streets and its flower-filled beds. The town also harbours stories of disputes over gold mining and of resistance to the Prestes Column and the ‘coronéis’. As for nature, look out for the everlasting flower, the symbol of the region.

Architectural monuments in Mucugê

1. Santa Isabel Cemetery
2. St Isabel’s Parish Church

1. St Isabel’s Cemetery (Byzantine cemetery)

Between the historic centre and the hillside lies the Santa Isabel Cemetery, also known as the Byzantine cemetery. It comprises a flat, walled section with shallow graves, and an area of mausoleums set against the rocky slope of the Serra do Sincorá, to the north-west of the town. The white mausoleums are miniature replicas of church and chapel façades and blend into the rock and the savannah landscape, much like the ‘locas’ of the gold prospectors.

According to IPHAN, work began in 1854, commissioned by the Town Council, and was completed in 1886, when an epidemic ravaged the town. Other sources link the decision to build the cemetery to the cholera epidemic of 1855, so the dates vary. The site was probably chosen because of the flat, easily excavated land, close to the town.

2. St Isabel’s Parish Church

The church was built in the mid-19th century by Friar Caetano de Troyria, with the help of the local community, on land donated by Colonel Reginaldo Landulpho. IPHAN carried out a complete restoration in 2014, including conservation and restoration work on the sacred images. The church has a neoclassical façade, three naves and a U-shaped chancel, and underwent renovation work in 1952, when the stone floor was replaced with tiles, and in 1978, when the roof was repaired.

5. Morro do Chapéu: nature, history and archaeology in the Chapada Diamantina

Morro do Chapéu boasts a wealth of natural and historical attractions, including waterfalls, caves, archaeological sites and traces of the diamond industry. Unlike the other towns featured in this guide, it does not appear amongst the urban areas listed by IPHAN in the sources consulted.

Natural and archaeological heritage

• Ferro Doido Waterfall: the waterfall is between 80 and 100 metres high, depending on the source, and is situated within a state-designated natural monument established in 1998. See also the tallest and most beautiful waterfalls in the Chapada.
• Caves and caverns: According to the Geological Survey of Brazil, the Gruta dos Brejões contains panels of cave paintings.
• Archaeological sites: there are cave paintings, such as those at Toca do Pepino, and rock engravings, which bear witness to very ancient human settlement in the region.

Architectural monuments in Morro do Chapéu

1. Our Lady of Grace Parish Church
2. The Grassi family mansion
3. Vila do Ventura

1. Nossa Senhora da Graça Parish Church

According to the IBGE, the Capuchin missionary Friar Clemente Adorno arrived at the Morro estate in 1795 and began teaching the catechism. The chapel was built on land donated by a local resident; it was completed in 1834 and the settlement was elevated to the status of a parish in 1838. Some local sources cite slightly different dates for the start of construction.

2. The Grassi family mansion

The mansion is associated with the Italian Grassi family, who owned land in the vicinity of the village in the early 20th century. A local legend links the name ‘Toca do Pepino’ to the nickname of a family member, but academic studies state that they have been unable to confirm this origin.

3. Vila do Ventura

In the early 1840s, prospectors who had fled Lençóis sought refuge in the region and discovered diamonds and ‘carbonado’ (black diamonds), and the settlement began to attract many other prospectors. According to the Geological Survey of Brazil, mining in Ventura lasted from around 1841 to 1932, and the village was the main centre for diamonds and carbonado in the municipality of Morro do Chapéu. Research cites the Paraguayan War, the fall in the price of carbonado and the drought of 1932 amongst the causes of its decline.

The district was established by a state law of 1906 and once had a theatre and a philharmonic orchestra. Today, the ruined village is home to grand mansions and cobbled streets, and only a few houses are permanently inhabited, according to academic studies. See the itinerary for Vila do Ventura and the cliff-top trail.

The architecture of the Chapada Diamantina invites you to discover the history of Bahia on foot. Continue exploring the complete guide to the Chapada Diamantina, the  main towns and villages, the towns listed as historic heritage sites in Bahia and the tourist tips for Chapada Diamantina.

Sources consulted

• IPHAN: Lençóis (BA)
• IPHAN: Mucugê (BA)
• IPHAN: Igatu (Andaraí, BA)
• Smargiassi: Rio de Contas (cites the IPHAN lists)
• ipatrimonio: Parish Church of the Blessed Sacrament
• Bahia News: restoration of the church and the theatre (2014)
• IBGE: Monograph on Morro do Chapéu
• Brazilian Geological Survey: Morro do Chapéu
• Chapada Newspaper: Igatu and the Conviver Programme (2026)
• Bahia News: Lençóis Bridge (2026)

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