rio de janeiro - petropolis

Full day visit to Petrópolis

Petrópolis was truly Brazil's summer capital during the reign of Dom Pedro II from 1847 and in the first decades of the Republic until 1930 . It was the summer refuge for the leading politicians , the diplomatic corps and wealthy families , who chose to escape the hottest months in Rio de Janeiro . The city contains magnificent buildings , an inheritance of its Royal and Republican past .

You will be picked up from your hotel at 08:30 AM. Then, taken to the Imperial City of Petrópolis, which is located 60 km away from Rio de Janeiro. The tour will start with a visit to the impressive Quitandinha Palace built in 1944 in a Normand style with 50,000 m². The Quitandinha Palace was built with the intention of becoming the biggest casino and hotel of South America. The interior decoration was done by Dorothy Grape who was a famous set designer of Hollywood at the time.  

The tour will continue with a visit to the the Gothic Catedral of São Pedro de Alcântara where the Princess Isabel, D. Pedro II and his wife were buried. Then, the tour will continue to the Crystal Palace inaugurated in 1884. The Crystal Palace was built in France but mounted in Brazil and was designed to host great parties by the Princess Isabel.

After the visit to the Crystal Palace, the tour will continue to the Santos Dumont House, known as the “Enchanted House” because there were made some great inventions. The most significant invention of Santos Dumond was the airplane that is why he is also known as the father of aviation.

After the visit to Santos Dumont’s house, we will have lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, the tour will continue to the Imperial Museum which has been the summer residence of the emperor D. Pedro II. The same furniture and objects that were used at the time, can still be seen. Pearls, diamonds, the gold crown and the pen that Princess Isabel used to sign the Áurea law, which was responsible for the abolishment of slavery, can also be seen.

From the Imperial Museum, we proceed on our back to Rio de Janeiro.