Imperial Cities and Seasonal Residences: Petrópolis, Summer Capital of Brazil (1843–1889), and its European Counterparts

Abstract

Petrópolis is known as the Imperial City because it served as the summer capital of the Empire of Brazil (1822–1889). The circumstances of Petrópolis’s foundation in 1843 and its subsequent expansion are representative of—and throw light upon—the many ‘summer residences’ in Europe which existed in tandem with capital cities during the long nineteenth century. This article examines the origins and role of Petrópolis, and discusses the ways in which summer residences functioned in Europe.