two years after it was built president eurico gaspar dutra banned casinos and gaming in brazil and the building was longer able to function as a luxury hotel - in 1989 the building was renovated and it is now open to visitors.  

shoppers will be pleased to discover some fabulous arts and crafts fairs, including the one on praça expedicionários, in the historical center, happening from thursday to sunday, or the one at the hortomercado municipal of itaipava, organized every saturday, sunday, and holiday.

also of interest would be the fair of the parque municipal de petrópolis, estrada união e indústria, 10.000, itaipava that animates the neighborhoods every saturday.