neighborhood · Petrópolis, RJ
Itaipava
A district about fifteen kilometers from downtown, home to many restaurants, shops and pousadas. It is usually the base for people looking for the more rural, quieter side of the mountains.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Itaipava
Itaipava is the third district of Petrópolis, created in 1892, a little over 20 kilometers from the historic center. Before colonization, the area was known as Sertão dos Índios Coroados. It occupies a wider, lower valley than downtown, surrounded by rounded green hills. It rains less and is sunnier, which makes winter mild and dry. The district grew along the Estrada União e Indústria, opened by Dom Pedro II in 1861 between Petrópolis and Juiz de Fora, the first macadamized road in Latin America.
The dining hub lies along this road. There are kilometers of restaurants serving all kinds of cuisine, bars, craft breweries, cafés and tea houses, usually in stone and wood buildings with clay-tile roofs and gardens.
Shopping follows the same pattern. There are several small shopping centers, one or two stories tall, with fashion, decor, furniture and local products, and one of them has a movie theater. A farmers' market opens Friday to Sunday, with flowers and regional products. A few kilometers away, by the BR-040, there is a large craft fair, at its fullest on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. For an outdoor walk, the Parque Municipal Prefeito Paulo Rattes has flat lawns, native trees and shaded paths.
Itaipava runs on weekend rhythm. On Saturday it gets busy early, and by late afternoon the sidewalk tables fill up. Traffic on the União e Indústria slows down, and you need a car for almost everything. During the week, the district goes back to being a quiet road among the mountains.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
A full day, or an afternoon that ends with dinner.
Best time
Winter, with dry, sunny days, is the most popular season. On weekends it gets busy early; to avoid traffic, go on Friday or Saturday morning.
How to get there
Via the BR-040 or the Estrada União e Indústria, 40 to 50 minutes by car from downtown. By bus, the line linking downtown to the Itaipava terminal takes about an hour.
Tip
On weekends traffic on the União e Indústria is often slow: leave early. Before going to the craft fair on a weekday, check its website to see which shops are open.
A look at the place
Itaipava in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Itaipava
How far is Itaipava from downtown Petrópolis?
A little over 20 kilometers, 40 to 50 minutes by car on the BR-040 or the Estrada União e Indústria.
Can you get there without a car?
You can get there by bus, on a ride of about an hour. But the restaurants and shopping centers are spread out along the road, and the sidewalks are narrow: getting around by car is more practical.
What is the best time of year to go?
Winter, with dry, sunny days. Itaipava gets less rain than downtown Petrópolis.
Is traffic bad on weekends?
It is often slow on the Estrada União e Indústria. To avoid it, go on Friday or Saturday morning.