Petrópolis: Imperial Palace, Historic District and Mountain Landscape

Petrópolis can be explored on very different scales: from the former Imperial Palace, which served as D. Pedro II’s summer residence, to the mountain landscape of the Serra do Mar, protected by Serra dos Órgãos National Park. Avenida Köeler offers another perspective on the city’s heritage, with its distinctive designation as a protected historic district. Historic sites and a protected area on a regional scale therefore sit side by side. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, a good first step is to decide which of these themes you want to focus on during your trip.

The Former Imperial Palace and the Museu Imperial

The Museu Imperial is housed in the former Imperial Palace, which served as D. Pedro II’s summer residence. This former purpose makes the building more than a neutral setting for a museum visit: the building and the institution can be considered together as part of Petrópolis’ history. Visitor information lists Tuesday through Sunday and public holidays as visiting days, except for Labour Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The stated hours are 10:00 to 18:00 for the palace and 7:00 to 18:00 for the gardens. Check the schedule before your visit.

Avenida Köeler as a Historic District

In 1964, IPHAN designated Avenida Köeler as Petrópolis’ first urban and landscape heritage ensemble. This designation brings together two perspectives: urban design and landscape are considered jointly. This is a different way of approaching the city’s history than focusing on a single building. During your visit, you can also pay attention to how Avenida Köeler is experienced as a protected historic district. The year of protection and its designation as the first ensemble of this kind give this place a specific role in the history of heritage protection in Petrópolis.

A Mountain Landscape on a Regional Scale

Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects 19,855 hectares of the Serra do Mar’s landscape and biodiversity in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro. The protected area extends across the municipalities of Teresópolis, Petrópolis, Magé and Guapimirim. Petrópolis is therefore one of four municipalities within the area; the stated figure covers the national park as a whole. In contrast to the individual palace or avenue, the focus here is a vast natural area. If you are interested in landscape and biodiversity, this offers a different focus for planning your trip than the city’s historic sites.

Visits and Choosing Your Accommodation

Palácio Itaboraí is also located in Petrópolis. Fiocruz announced the resumption of public visits to Palácio Itaboraí, the Trilha do Arboreto, the exhibition area and the convention centre. At the time, visits to the Trilha do Arboreto were temporarily unguided. Before visiting, check which areas are currently accessible.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can compare your specific destinations with the location of each accommodation. If the former Imperial Palace and Avenida Köeler are your main priorities, base your search around these planned visits. If you mainly want to include the national park, bear in mind that it spans four municipalities, including Petrópolis. First decide which places matter to your trip, then check whether the holiday apartment’s location suits your plans. This way, your choice of base reflects the things you want to discover in Petrópolis.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: São Gonçalo, Niterói, Duque De Caxias, Belford Roxo, Itaboraí, Rio Bonito, Tarituba, Ponte Coberta.

For the main travel overview: Rio De Janeiro.