This post is also on:
Português 
English
Piatã is a municipality in the state of Bahia in Brazil.
It is the highest and coldest municipality in the state of Bahia, as well as in the entire Northeast 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.
Piatã also has higher plateau areas on the outskirts of its urban centre, which rise up to 1,500 metres.
Piatã is the highest mountain town in the whole of the Northeast (1,180 metres above sea level) and the oldest settlement in the Chapada Diamantina, 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 located – and the Serra do Santana, with its chapel of Senhor do Bonfim.
Settlement began in the mid-17th century with the discovery by prospectors of mines in the Tromba and Santana mountains, 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 formed, which was born on the banks of the Estrada Real (Royal Road), a road opened by the explorer Pedro Barbosa Leal in 1725, linking Rio de Contas to Jacobina.
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.
The June festivities are the most celebrated, both in the 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 nights, the coldest of the year, every home always has a handmade liqueur, a “quentão ’ (typical drink of the region) or a warm coffee, grown and harvested in the town’s backyards.
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, which is 568 kilometres from Salvador.
The name Piatã comes from the Tupi language and means ‘firm footing “ or ”the fortress’.
See the map of the Chapada Diamantina National Park
Video about Piatã in the Chapada Diamantina
History of the City of Piatã
Historians point out that the town of Piatã is the oldest in the Chapada Diamantina, and arose in the context of the expansionist movement of the 17th century. This process resulted in 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 there had already been black amocambados since 1680.
At the beginning of the 17th century, with the discovery of large gold deposits in the Serra de Santana, a church was built with carved stone walls and portals. Later, a small settlement was formed around this church, located on a plateau between the valleys of the 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 exploring the region. Leal was responsible for opening a road linking Rio de Contas to Jacobina.
Another important figure was Captain Major Antônio Veloso da Silva, who, under orders from the Bahian government, fought against wild Indians and escaped blacks in the backlands.
In 1732, he was tasked with travelling down the Rio de Contas to transport material for the construction of a smelter and open up 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, initially called Bom Jesus dos Limões, progressed 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 territory underwent administrative changes over time:
- In 1878, by law no. 1813, the district was renamed Bom Jesus do Rio de Contas.
- In 1931, state decree 7479 changed the name 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 municipalities of Abaíra and Boninal.
Tourist Guide to Piatã in the Chapada Diamantina
The town is featured on Bahia.ws, recognised as the largest tourist guide in Bahia and Salvador, promoting its historical and natural attractions.
