Petrópolis

São Pedro de Alcantara Cathedral

The Imperial Palace

The City of Petrópolis proclaims herself to be the only Imperial City in the Americas. For those who don´t know, Brazil was a monarchy from 1808, when the Portuguese Royal Family, in order to escape from Napoleon in Europe, established the Reign in Rio de Janeiro, until 1889, when Republic was proclaimed. In 1822, the King had gone back to Portugal and his son, Dom Pedro I, established the Independence of Brazil from Portugal, but still a Brazilian Monarchy went on. In 1843, Emperor Dom Pedro II wanted to build his Summer Palace at the place where later became Petropolis, a town colonized by german immigrants.

Petrópolis became also, at the end of the 19th Century, an important industrial city, with many textiles plants. It´s the home of the First Beer Factory in Brasil, The Bohemian Beer. Today it´s the home of the Itaipava Beer too. It is located one hour away from Rio de Janeiro City, the State Capital.

The String Factory

Quitandinha (ancient Casino and Hotel)

The first time I visited Petropolis was in 1988 with the Askins. I came back now after 22 years. My mother visited Petrópolis in 1954 when she came to Rio de Janeiro visit her brother who was studying law at the University of Brazil (today Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). Uncle Riutaro brought her to visit the Imperial Palace (The Imperial Palace, after the end of Monarchy became a school, and then in 1943 became the Imperial Museum). She didn´t come back again. I think it´s time for her to visit again.