Piatã is the highest mountain town in the entire Northeast.

Piatã is a municipality in the state of Bahia in Brazil. It is the highest and coldest municipality in the state, as well as in the entire Northeastern Region of Brazil.

With an altitude of 1,280 metres, it surpasses other highland municipalities in Bahia such as Morro do Chapéu, Rio de Contas and Vitória da Conquista.

Geography and altitude

Piatã still has higher plateau areas on the outskirts of its urban centre, which rise to 1,500 metres. With an altitude of 1,180 metres, it is the highest mountain city in the whole of the Northeast and the oldest settlement in the Chapada Diamantina.

It is located on a plateau between the Serra da Tromba – an extension of the Serra da Mantiqueira, where the sources of the Rio de Contas and Rio Machado are – and the Serra do Santana, with its chapel of Senhor do Bonfim.

History of settlement

Settlement began in the mid-17th century with the discovery of mines in the Tromba and Santana mountains by prospectors, which attracted a large number of adventurers in search of gold and precious stones.

In the municipality of Minas do Rio de Contas (now Rio de Contas), the town of Bom Jesus dos Limões (now Piatã) was founded, which was born on the banks of the Estrada Real (Royal Road), a road opened by the explorer Pedro Barbosa Leal in 1725, connecting Rio de Contas with Jacobina.

Historical heritage

The Mother Church of Bom Jesus, located in the Vicar Souza Square, and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary date from this period.

Festivities

The June Festivities are the most celebrated, both in urban and rural areas, and are characterised by a bountiful table of typical seasonal products and a “chill” that can reach 3 or 4ºC. The average annual temperature never exceeds 20ºC.

On June evenings, the coldest of the year, there is always a artisanal liqueur, a “quentão” (a typical local drink) or a hot coffee, planted and harvested in the city’s backyards.

Natural attractions

The Waterfalls of Patrício, Cochó, Rio de Contas, Malhada da Areia, Encontro das Águas, Gerais do Rio de Contas, Bica do Machado, Serra do Santana, Serra do Navio, Serra da Tromba and Três Morros are among the main natural attractions of Piatã, located 568 kilometres from Salvador.

Meaning of the name

The name Piatã comes from the Tupi language and means “firm footing” or “the fortress”.

See the map of Chapada Diamantina National Park

Map of Chapada Diamantina

Video of Piatã in Chapada Diamantina

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Piatã na Chapada Diamantina05:54

História de Piatã na Chapada Diamantina

Piatã - Reportagem41:12

PIATÃ VISTA DO CÉU05:05

History of the city of Piatã

Historians point out that the city of Piatã, the oldest in the Chapada Diamantina, was founded in the context of the expansionist movement of the 17th century.

This process led to bandeirantes penetrating the hinterland of the Rio de Contas in search of precious stones and especially gold.

These expeditions reached the Serra de Santana and Serra da Tromba mountains, where black amocambados had been found since 1680.

At the beginning of the 17th century, with the discovery of large gold deposits in the Serra de Santana, a church with carved stone walls and portals was built.

Later, a small settlement grew up around the church, on a plateau between the valleys of two mountains, Santana and Tromba.

The bandeirantes, such as Pedro Barbosa Leal, commissioned by the viceroy, the Count of Sabugosa, played a crucial role in the exploration of the region. Leal was responsible for opening a road between Rio de Contas and Jacobina.

Another important figure was Captain Major Antônio Veloso da Silva, who, under orders from the Bahian government, fought fierce Indians and runaway blacks in the interior.

In 1732 he was ordered to travel down the Rio de Contas to transport material for the construction of a foundry and to open better roads to the mines.

In 1738, after a violent confrontation with Indians, he founded a cattle ranch in what is now the municipality of Jussiape.

The settlement, originally called Bom Jesus dos Limões, grew with the arrival of men in search of wealth. It became part of the municipality of Minas do Rio de Contas, and in 1842 the district of Bom Jesus dos Limões was created by Provincial Law No. 169.

The area underwent administrative changes over time:

• In 1878, by law 1813, the district was renamed Bom Jesus do Rio de Contas.
• In 1931, by State Decree 7479, the name was changed to Anchieta.
• In 1943, by State Decree no. 141, the seat and the municipality were renamed Piatã.

In 1962, Piatã lost part of its territory with the emancipation of the parishes of Abaíra and Boninal.

Tourist guide to Piatã in Chapada Diamantina

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