Statue of Christ the Redeemer

Statue of Christ the Redeemer

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer is a famous sculpture of Jesus with outstretched arms, which is placed on top of Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, the capital of Brazil. It is considered a symbol of the city and the entire country, and is also listed as one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World. The mountain rises 800 meters above Rio, so from the foot of the statue offers a stunning view of the capital and its individual landmarks, including Sugar Loaf Peak, the large Guanabara Bay and the long bridge across it, the famous Maracana Stadium, and the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.

The total height of the sculpture is 38 meters, taking into account the eight-meter pedestal, and the span of the outstretched arms is 28 meters. The statue of Christ the Redeemer weighs more than 1000 tons, but despite this, from afar it looks graceful. Nearly 2 million tourists visit the monument every year.

Video: Statue of Christ the Redeemer (Views, reconstruction, from inside)

• Creation History
• Interesting facts
• Doppelgangers of the Redeemer
• How to get there
• Cost and how to visit

History of creation

In 1921, when the idea of the monument was brought up again, it was along these very tracks that materials were brought in. A year before the centennial celebration of Brazil’s independence from Portugal, Rio’s Catholic organizations did initiate the construction of the statue. Such a sculpture was to be a symbol of national liberation and of Christianity in general.

However, no money was allocated from the state treasury, so during the so-called “Monument Week”, charitable donations from citizens were collected. The latter liked the idea of erecting the monument, and in a short period of time more than 2.5 million reals were collected. Large donations were also made by the church community.

Interesting facts

The Christ the Redeemer statue is the tallest object in the entire area, so it falls victim to lightning strikes multiple times each year. The local diocese even keeps a stockpile of talcochlorite cladding in case emergency repairs are needed. However, no serious lightning damage has been reported since 2010, when the monument was fitted with new lightning rods.

In 2007, the monument was listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World in a national vote.

A small church is nestled beneath the statue of Christ the Redeemer, where services, baptisms and weddings are regularly held. The Catholic chapel can accommodate up to 100 people. A gift store is located nearby.

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No matter where you go in Rio, you will see this statue from anywhere in the city, so it is easy to use the monument as a landmark. Modern illumination at night creates a stunning effect: the light seems to emanate from within the figure and Christ appears to hover over the falling asleep city, blessing it.

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For many travelers as well as locals, the sculpture is not only a landmark, but also a Christian shrine. There is a belief that by climbing the stairs, a person is purified, and by the time he visits the top, his sins are forgiven. However, an escalator has still been installed here for the elderly and those with special physical needs or poor health.

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‘ At the foot of the statue

‘ Airplanes in the background of the statue

‘ Face of the Statue of Christ the Redeemer

Doppelgangers of the Redeemer

After the erection of this statue, similar monuments began to appear around the world:

• Christ the King, Lisbon (Portugal);
• Jesus with outstretched arms, Vung Tau (Vietnam);
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• sculpture of the Savior, Monado (Indonesia, Sulawesi Island);
• a monument in Dili (East Timor);
• There are similar statues in Honduras, Malta, Italy and the Dominican Republic.

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These figures differ in details, but the overall composition and pose remain the same. Some of the sculptures are even installed underwater, which makes them mysterious and mystical.

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‘ Christ the King, Lisbon

‘ Jesus with outstretched arms, Vungtau

‘ Christ Sculpture in Dili

How to get there

To visit the Christ the Redeemer statue, you must drive to the foot of Corcovado Mountain. From there, a small electric train departs and will take you straight to the route. Along the way, it will make several stops where everyone can buy, for example, water, which is sold by enterprising locals.

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You can also get here by road, using a rental car or cab. Either way, you will pass through the picturesque Tijuca Park. This is the world’s largest forest plantation within the city limits. Local exotic varieties of plants grow here, and the fauna is richly represented.

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‘ Electric train traveling to Corcovado Mountain

‘ Tourists on the observation deck

Cost and procedure for visiting

‘ View of Rio