The Gothic tower
Seen across the centre.
HELIO BASTOS SALMON — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Eugenio Hansen, OFS — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Shadowdancer — CC BY-SA 3.0 · luizvinha — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Cathedral of São Pedro de Alcântara, the Cathedral of Petrópolis, is the town's most striking building, its tall Gothic tower visible from most streets of the historic centre. The Brazilian engineer Francisco Caminhoá designed it in the Gothic Revival style, inspired by the old cathedrals of northern France; work began in 1884 and it opened in 1925 after 37 years of building, though its façade was completed later and its tower only went up between 1960 and 1969. The cathedral holds the Imperial Mausoleum, resting place of Brazil's last emperor, Pedro II, and his wife Teresa Cristina, whose remains were brought back from Lisbon in 1921 after the imperial family's banishment was lifted; their daughter Princess Isabel and her husband were later buried there too. For visitors its finest side is the stone façade and tower from outside, and a walk along the shaded street in front, a few steps from the Imperial Museum.
Seen across the centre.
Northern French style.
Pedro II's resting place.
Rua São Pedro de Alcântara 60, central Petrópolis
Crystal PalaceThe Crystal Palace is an iron-and-glass pavilion in central Petrópolis, its part5 minutes walk4.6
Imperial MuseumThe Imperial Museum is the summer palace of Emperor Pedro II, Brazil's last empe6 minutes walk4.9
Santos Dumont House (A Encantada)The Santos Dumont House is a small summer home built in 1918 by Alberto Santos-D9 minutes walk4.6Emperor Pedro II and his wife Teresa Cristina, and their daughter Princess Isabel and her husband, in the Imperial Mausoleum inside the cathedral.