Petropolis Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
Petrópolis, also nown as The Imperial City of Brazil, is located 60 km from Rio de Janeiro.Nested among the forested hills of the Serra dos Órgãos National , Petrópolis is a popular resort town among locals from Rio.
Besides the climate and surroundings, the main attraction is the former Summer Palace of the Brazilian Emperors, which is now a Museum, specialized in Imperial history and memorabilia.
History of Petropolis
The town's name ("city of Peter") honors Emperor Pedro I, the nation's first monarch.
The city was the summer residence of the Brazilian Emperors and aristocrats in the 19th century, and was the official capital of the State of Rio de Janeiro between 1894 and 1903.
The town's origins can be traced to a certain Bernardo Soares de Proença, who in 1720 opened an alternative route between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, across the Serra da Estrela.
While traveling to Minas Gerais along this route, Emperor Pedro I found the region's climate pleasant, so in 1830 he bought a farm, and had his Summer Palace buit there.
Other Brazilian aristocrats eventually followed suit.
Under his successor Pedro II , german farmers were encouraged to immigrate and to settle on the Emperor's outlying lands, to help give the Palace a charming urban setting.
The settlement of Petrópolis was founded on March 16, 1843,being promoted to district in 1844 and finally city in 1857.
On a visit at the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876, Pedro II was impressed by Alexander Graham Bell's new telephone, and had a line installed between the Summer Palace and the farm headquarters.
Petropolis Tour includes:
- Transfer to/from hotel (by bus). Only hotels in Ipanema or Copacabana area.
- Bilingual Guide (English or Spanish).
DURATION: 8 hours
PRICE: US$ 49.99 per person
Available every Tuesday ,Thursday and Saturday.
