Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro
Overview of Petrópolis:
Petrópolis, in the
mountain range known as Serra Fluminense, in Rio de Janeiro State, is a
favourite getaway for Rio de Janeiro residents.
With cooler weather, historic buildings, plenty of ecotourism and adventure opportunities, and charming hotels, Petrópolis is the closest mountain resort around Rio and often thought of as part of a trio of towns that also includes Teresópolis and Nova Friburgo.
Sightseeing in Petrópolis is convenient as many of the city's attractions are in the historic downtown area. Surrounding districts - mainly Itaipava and Araras - abound in natural beauty and charming inns.Read More
With cooler weather, historic buildings, plenty of ecotourism and adventure opportunities, and charming hotels, Petrópolis is the closest mountain resort around Rio and often thought of as part of a trio of towns that also includes Teresópolis and Nova Friburgo.
Sightseeing in Petrópolis is convenient as many of the city's attractions are in the historic downtown area. Surrounding districts - mainly Itaipava and Araras - abound in natural beauty and charming inns.Read More
History:
Emperor
Pedro I, who declared Brazil independent from Portugal on September 7,
1822, spent a night on a farm belonging to a priest, Padre Correia, when
traveling to Minas Gerais earlier in 1822. The farm was located by the Royal Road (Estrada Real) which connected the coast to the gold mines (minas) of the southeast.
Pedro I was pleased with the weather and thought it would be good to have a summer residence where he could receive visitors from Europe away from the hot weather in Rio, then the seat of government. He also felt the local climate would be healthy for his daughter, a fragile child who died at 10.
Pedro I was pleased with the weather and thought it would be good to have a summer residence where he could receive visitors from Europe away from the hot weather in Rio, then the seat of government. He also felt the local climate would be healthy for his daughter, a fragile child who died at 10.
The royals purchased a farm next to Padre
Correia's farm. When the emperor was forced to resign and return to
Portugal in 1831, leaving his young son, Pedro II, as the ruler of
Brazil, plans to build a palace on the Petrópolis farm were abandoned.
In 1843, newlywed, eighteen-year-old Pedro II created Petrópolis by decree. The city and the summer residence were built largely by European immigrants, mainly Germans.
In 1843, newlywed, eighteen-year-old Pedro II created Petrópolis by decree. The city and the summer residence were built largely by European immigrants, mainly Germans.
The Imperial Museum
Built between 1845 and 1862, the summer residence of Emperor Pedro II is now Museu Imperial, or the Imperial Museum.
When
Brazil became a republic, Princess Izabel, Pedro II’s daughter, rented
out the building to a school. A student of a subsequent school housed in
the palace, Alcindo de Azevedo Sodré, idealized the museum, which was
created by president Getúlio Vargas by decree in 1940 and opened to the
public in 1943.
Some of the most important objects in Brazilian history are housed in Museu Imperial, including the gold quill used by Princess Izabel to sign Lei Áurea, the law which liberated slaves in Brazil in 1888.
Some of the most important objects in Brazilian history are housed in Museu Imperial, including the gold quill used by Princess Izabel to sign Lei Áurea, the law which liberated slaves in Brazil in 1888.
Museu Casa de Santos Dumont:
The Brazilian Father of Aviation and inventor of the wristwatch, Alberto Santos Dumont, lived in A Encantada (The Charmed One), a house perched on a hill in the downtown area of Petrópolis, later turned into Santos Dumont’s House Museum.
The intriguing house doesn’t have a kitchen – meals came from a nearby hotel – but it has a lookout point for astronomical observation and stairs shaped as rackets, which force the visitor to start the ascent either with the right foot (outside) or the left foot (indoor staircase).
The museum (phone: 24 2247-5222) is open Tue-Sun, 9:30a-5p.
Museu Casa de Santos Dumont photos
The intriguing house doesn’t have a kitchen – meals came from a nearby hotel – but it has a lookout point for astronomical observation and stairs shaped as rackets, which force the visitor to start the ascent either with the right foot (outside) or the left foot (indoor staircase).
The museum (phone: 24 2247-5222) is open Tue-Sun, 9:30a-5p.
Museu Casa de Santos Dumont photos
Other Petrópolis Attractions:
- Crystal Palace - Built as a present from Count D'Eu to his wife, Princess Izabel, the 1884 structure was built in France and ispired in London's Crystal Palace.
- Quitandinha Palace - Once the largest hotel/casino in South America, Quitandinha is now a trade center.
- Praça 14-Bis - On a square dedicated to Alberto Santos Dumont, view a replica of the 14-Bis, his pioneer airplane, at 75% of the original size.
- São Pedro de Alcântara Cathedral
Where to Stay:
Local online guide Petrópolis
has listings of hotels in the central area and in surrounding
districts, such as Itaipava and Araras, where most country resorts are
located.
Ecotourism & Adventure:
Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgâos, in Teresópolis is the main natural attraction in the Fluminense Range.
For closer attractions, go to the Petrópolis Culture and Tourism Foundation website and look for Attractions, then Tourist Circuits, for more information.
There is a lot to do in the Tourist Circuits - Route 22, Range and Valley, and Taquaril.
For closer attractions, go to the Petrópolis Culture and Tourism Foundation website and look for Attractions, then Tourist Circuits, for more information.
There is a lot to do in the Tourist Circuits - Route 22, Range and Valley, and Taquaril.
Where to Eat:
NetPetrópolis has a listing of local restaurants. For restaurants in the downtown area, look for places listed with the location Bairro: Centro
Petrópolis Altitude:
800 meters (about 2,600 feet)
Distances:
Rio de Janeiro: 72 km (about 44 miles)
Teresópolis: 55 km (about 34 miles)
Nova Friburgo: 122 km (about 75 miles)
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