Christ the Redeemer is a large monument that is located on Morro do Corcovado, in the Santa Teresa neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil . Opened in 1931, this immense statue represents the image of Jesus Christ with open arms.
This great symbol of Christianity is located in the Tijuca National Park and was designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. He had the help of the painter Carlos Oswald and the sculptor Paul Landowski Maximilien.
In 2007, Christ the Redeemer was elected one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. In 2012, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
History
The idea of building a religious monument in the city came in 1859 from the French priest Pierre-Marie. In 1921, the construction project began to be thought of more properly by Catholics.
Three options were given for the location to house the monument:Morro do Corcovado, Morro de Santo Antônio and Pão de Açúcar. In the same year, three projects were presented, being Heitor da Silva Costa elected.
In September 1923, a campaign was promoted to raise funds for the construction of the Christ. The construction was elaborated between the years of 1922 and 1931.
On October 12, 1931, the monument was inaugurated. The chosen date corresponds to the day of the patron saint of Brazil, Nossa Senhora Aparecida. During the ceremony Dom Sebastião Leme, the archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, said:
“Christ wins! Christ reigns! Christ reigns! Christ protect your Brazil from all evil! ”
Fun facts about Christ the Redeemer
Detail of the face of Christ the Redeemer
- In Art Deco style, Christ the Redeemer is 38 meters high (including the pedestal) and 28 meters wide.
- The Christ is located 709 meters above sea level and weighs 1145 tons.
- It is the second largest monument of Christ in the world, after the Statue of Christ the King in Poland.
- It is constructed of concrete and soapstone and resembles the size of a 13-story building.
- Soapstone was chosen as the material because it was resistant to erosion and found in great abundance in the country.
- The soapstone was cut into many triangles and applied to the statue.
- The fundraising campaign for the construction of the Christ raised over a thousand contos de réis.
- The head and hands of Christ were made in France by sculptor Paul Landowski Maximilien.
- Christ the Redeemer inspired several songs and was a reference in some movies.
- In 1980, Pope John Paul II visited Christ the Redeemer and blessed the city. In the words of the Pope:“If God is Brazilian, the Pope is Carioca ".
- In Almada, Portugal, a similar image of Christ at the mouth of the Tagus River was inaugurated in 1959.
Visit to Christ the Redeemer
Panoramic view of Christ the Redeemer
One of the most emblematic monuments in Rio de Janeiro and the country can be visited by purchasing a ticket. To reach the place, you can choose to go by train, van or on foot.
Prices vary according to the chosen means of transport. Opening hours are from eight in the morning until seven in the afternoon.