The Cities
[Volusia County] [Daytona Beach] [Diamantina] [Campeche] [Bayonne]
Diamantina
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Daytona State Fulbright Scholar in Residence Arranges Sister Cities Match
Daytona Beach and the city of Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, have officially become sister cities thanks to the efforts of a Brazilian Fulbright Scholar in Residence at Daytona State College.
Diamantina has a population of about 50,000 and is located approximately 180 miles north of the state capital, Belo Horizonte, in a mountainous area that is bordered by the Jequitinhonha River. The city was built during the colonial era in the early 18th century and was a center for diamond mining for nearly 200 years. With its well-preserved Baroque buildings and architectural landmarks, the city is designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It has a rich musical heritage and also is an important academic research center led by the Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys. Diamantina is situated along Brazil’s Estrada Real, a centuries old route built by Brazil’s Portuguese colonists to transport gold and minerals from the country’s interior to the coast for transport to Lisbon. The mostly unpaved road today leads tourists through the cradle of Brazilian culture.
For more information contact Robles at roblesc@daytonastate.edu.
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São Francisco de Assis Church
Its initial construction dates from 1762 by the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi. The paintings on the ceiling are its major attraction, don by José Soares Araujo in 1782-83.