Technically, the entire city of Petrópolis is the property of the former Brazilian Imperial Family. Every sale of real estate there pays a tax directly to them. It's said to be a small compensation granted by the military when they forcibly ended monarchy in the year 1889. The city is therefore nicknamed the Imperial City by Brazilians.

The Imperial holiday residence in Petrópolis is now the Imperial Museum. The Royals themselves now live in slightly less maintenance-heavy dwellings.

Petrópolis is approx. 80 km (~50 mi) away from Rio, about 700 meters (~2300 ft) above sea level. Cool, suave wheather, unlike the hellhole that is Rio.