Rio de Janeiro – Excursions from Rio: The Serra

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The Serra
The easiest daytrip from Rio is to the old royal haunt of Petrópolis. In 1807, the entire Portuguese court temporarily established a government in exile in Brazil in order to escape Napoleon’s encroaching armies, which were poised to take control of Lisbon. This laid-back mountain town was established by the royal family of Portugal as a refreshing retreat from the sweltering mess of Rio, which was the capital of Portugal’s government in exile.

And they certainly chose well. The drive alone is worth the trip, winding from the flatlands on the outskirts of Rio headlong into the verdant mountainscapes above. The main sights of Petrópolis can easily be enjoyed in a day. They include the former Imperial Palace, now the Museu Imperial; the house of Santos Dumont, the man Brazilians argue was the first in flight; and the Palácio de Cristal, a glass and cast-iron pavilion brought from France in 1884 as a present from Dom Pedro II to Princesa Isabel. Note that these sights are closed on Mondays, so plan your trip accordingly.

Should time allow, and especially if you happen to have a car, there are many other lovely spots in Rio state. Just forty kilometers away is the mountain retreat of Teresópolis. Though the town itself offers little to hold your attention, the area is blessed by its location, close to the Serra dos Órgãos, a national park of dramatic rock formations. Farther afield is the mountain town of Nova Friburgo, originally settled by Swiss farmers, which still retains a distinctly European feel.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our South America Insiders page.

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