when the king of portugal and emperor of brazil dom pedro i, on his way to minas gerais, became enchanted with the natural beauty and climate of the region, he decided to buy a local farm called fazenda do córrego seco, planning on transforming it in the palace palácio da concórdia. 

due to political issues back at home in portugal, he returned to europe without even getting back to brazil - in 1843, his son dom pedro ii, took it upon himself to build on his father's land a royal summer residence.

on that year dom pedro ii officially created petrópolis, and opened the doors of the newfound city to immigrants from germany, italy, and portugal - by the official decree of 1843, the city was named petrópolis, meaning 'city of pedro'.