founded in 1843, petrópolis is a most charming colonial town with cobblestone streets, horse carriages, parks, and lots of green - located in the região serrana, about 160 kilometers from rio de janeiro capital, petrópolis is regarded as the imperial city of brazil. 

surrounded by the beautiful forests and hills of the serra dos órgãos, this city once hosted the brazilian emperor's summer palace - the first records of any official land concessions in the region date back to 1686.

however, the history of petrópolis goes back only about 150 years, when it was one of the main passages between rio de janeiro and the nearby minas gerais, home to brazil's most important gold mines.