although parks and gardens in rio are plentiful, the quinta da boa vista is one of the few public parks in the northern zone of the city. 

originally, it comprised a portion of gardens of the paço de são cristóvão, also known as  the palácio imperial (palace of saint christopher or the imperial palace) -  brazil's nineteenth century emperors' residence.

after the independence from the portuguese crown brazil became an empire, ruled by its own monarchic system.