Located in the Serra Fluminense, this city played an important role in the history of Brazil
It was in 1822, even before the Independence of Brazil, that D. Pedro I visited for the first time the place that would become Petrópolis. At the time, there were only a few farms between the huge rocky walls of the mountain range. The future emperor soon fell in love with the exuberant landscape and the region’s climate – much milder than that of Rio de Janeiro. He therefore idealized the construction of a summer palace there for the court, something very common among European monarchies.
construction of the settlement
The plans were only implemented years later, but by D. Pedro II, who signed the founding decree for the town of Petrópolis in 1843. In addition to the construction of an Imperial Palace, the project foresaw the urbanization of a surrounding village. Petrópolis was completely planned, with the streets following the natural course of the rivers and the houses facing them, but set back, with space for large gardens – an innovative project for the time and which can still be seen in the historic center of the city. To help build the village, the first settlers arrived around 1845 – in this case, German immigrants.
Popularity of Petropolis
At the time of the Empire, the summer season in Petrópolis lasted about six months, when the city became the seat of government. Along with D. Pedro II and the imperial family, nobles, diplomats and intellectuals moved to Petrópolis, who also built their palaces and mansions there. Even several presidents of Brazil surrendered to the charms of Petrópolis as a summer destination, notably Getúlio Vargas. In the first decades of the Republic, Petrópolis did not lose its prestige and continued to attract distinguished personalities, in a cultured and refined environment.
Today, the city is an important tourist destination, because it knew how to preserve its history. Petrópolis remains a stronghold of tranquility, being among the 50 safest cities in the country (IPEA data from 2017).
Heritage of Brazil Empire
Few Brazilian cities have an imperial heritage as vast and well preserved as Petrópolis. The memories of this moment in our history are everywhere: in monuments, buildings and names of streets and squares. To check all this out, it’s worth a walking tour through the historic center, which is flat, well treed and decorated with colorful flowers. At several points, there are plaques that tell a little of the history of each location.
The 19th century mansions draw attention due to their architectural beauty and good level of conservation. Many became tourist spots, while others were adapted in the form of hotels, official city hall buildings and commerce.
Imperial Museum
However, without a doubt, the highlight is the summer palace of D. Pedro II, today the Imperial Museum. Neoclassical in style, it has a very rich collection from the Empire of Brazil and is in no way inferior to European museums of the same size. Opened in the 1940s by decree of Getúlio Vargas, it recreates some rooms used by the imperial family with original furniture and objects and still has items on display such as the feather used by Princess Isabel to sign the Lei Áurea, the crowns of D. Pedro I and D. Pedro II and the royal robes, as well as letters, jewelry and paintings.
Cathedral Saint Peter of Alcantara
Nearby is the Cathedral São Pedro de Alcântara, in neo-Gothic style, whose tower can be seen from various points of the city. Inside, there is the Mausoleum of the imperial family, where the remains of D. Pedro II, Dona Teresa Cristina, Princess Isabel and Conde D’Eu are kept. There are also 38 stained glass windows of great beauty, which tell some passages from the history of Petrópolis and Catholic saints.
Crystal Palace and Princess Isabel’s House
With an iron and glass structure, the Palácio de Cristal was commissioned by Conde D’Eu in honor of Princess Isabel. There, the liberation of slaves from Petrópolis was signed, even before the Lei Áurea. For visit, admission is free. It is also worth checking out the Casa da Princesa Isabel (external visit only). In the garden, there are still white camellias, a symbol of the abolitionists of the time.
Experience Tour
Several restaurants, inns and other establishments in Petrópolis came together in the so-called Experience Tour, offering products and interactive attractions to immerse yourself in the Empire era. One of the most interesting is the Soiree Imperial, a presentation with Princess Isabel that takes place at the Cineteatro of the Imperial Museum.
20th century Petropolis
Although much of the city’s heritage dates back to the Empire period, there are a number of amazing buildings that date back to the 20th century. Among the illustrious figures who continued to frequent the city is Santos Dumont. The father of aviation had his summer residence there, better known as “A Encantada” – currently open to visitors.
From a distance, it looks like a toy house, very compact, on a sloping ground. However, it is functional and, like its former resident, ahead of its time. O design, made at the request of Santos Dumont himself in 1918, is full of traces of the inventor’s genius, such as the racket steps, the shower with hot water and the multipurpose furniture. On display are objects, books and letters by Santos Dumont.
Rio Negro Palace
The Rio Negro Palace, from 1903, was used as an official summer residence by several presidents of the Republic. Today it functions as a museum, where you can see the original furniture used by Getúlio Vargas, the marble staircases and much more.
Quitandinha Palace
For a long time, Petrópolis attracted the cream of the Brazilian elite. Thus, nothing more natural than the construction of a luxurious casino hotel: the Quitandinha Palace, built in the 1940s to be the largest of its kind in South America. Full of rooms and sumptuous details, the hotel was the scene of great balls of Carnival, concerts by famous artists of the time and even Miss Brazil contests. However, just two years after its opening, gambling was banned in the country and the hotel gradually fell into decay.
Recently, the Quitandinha Palace has been managed by SESC and is now open to visitors. The halls have been restored and you can have a taste of the hotel’s glory days. The space of the former casino surprises with a gigantic dome.
Beer State Capital
Petrópolis goes far beyond historical heritage: it is one of the main beer centers in the country. The city is also considered the birthplace of the production of beer in Brazil, as the country’s first brewery was founded there – Bohemia, founded in 1853. Along with neighboring Teresópolis, Nova Friburgo and Guapimirim, Petrópolis is part of the Rio de Janeiro Beer Route, which includes 23 producers of all sizes.
bohemia
Many breweries are open to visitors and offer unmissable attractions for drink fans. Bohemia transformed part of its original factory, located in the center of Petrópolis, into the largest beer experience center in Latin America. It works as an interactive beer museum, with thematic environments about the history of the drink and its production process. On the tour, there is a tasting of some Bohemia labels.
Grupo Petrópolis and Buda Beer
Producer of well-known brands such as Itaipava, Crystal and Petra, Grupo Petrópolis offers a free guided beer tour of the Petrópolis factory. It is also worth visiting Buda Beer, an artisanal microbrewery and brewpub. In a relaxed atmosphere, there are tasting tours. The menu has dishes that harmonize with the brand’s beers.
Petrópolis to Taste
Always on the second weekend of the month (between Friday night and Saturday), in front of the Town Hall, the Deguste, a fair of Craft beers. Several small producers from the city and the mountain region are present, as well as food trucks and stalls selling gourmet products and handicrafts.
For all tastes: shopping, gastronomy and festivals
With numerous stores, galleries and local apparel, Petrópolis is a recognized national fashion hub. High quality clothes and accessories are sold at very attractive prices. To do some shopping, go to the famous Rua Teresa, downtown, to the Bingen neighborhood and to the Feirinha de Itaipava, open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
A gastronomy is also gaining more and more prominence in the city. There is a good variety of restaurants – from hamburgers to refined bistros, from Italian cuisine to Japanese cuisine. Close to the historic center, the neighborhood of Valparaíso is the gastronomic center of the city. During the year, there are a series of gastronomic events in Petrópolis, such as the Sabores de Outono Festival, Serra Wine Week and Petrópolis Gourmet.
Cultural festivals are also unmissable, such as the traditional Bauernfest, in honor of German immigrants, the Japanese Bunka-Sai and the Italian Serra Serata. The Winter Festival has a program of concerts, operas, ballet, concerts and plays. At the end of the year, Imperial Christmas lights up the city.
Nature and ecotourism
A large part of the Serra dos Órgãos National Park is located in Petrópolis – a reserve with exuberant fauna and flora of the Atlantic Forest, as well as waterfalls and incredible rock formations. A well-known attraction is the Petrópolis-Teresópolis crossing, an extensive trail of about 30 km inside the park, which gives access to breathtaking panoramic views. The indicated route lasts three days and starts in Petrópolis. It is recommended to go with a specialized guide.
By Patrícia Chemin – Qual Viagem magazine
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.