The Statue of Cristo Redentor is known as ‘The Statue of Christ the Redeemer’ in English. It stands at an impressive height of 30 meters or 98 feet. It offers a birds-eye-view of Rio de Janeiro. The Statue of Cristo Redentor is one of the world’s tallest statues.
The statue depicts Jesus Christ standing with his arms outstretched. The statue of Cristo Redentor has become a symbol of Rio de Janeiro and of Brazil, in general.
The statue was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa, who was an engineer. The statue was conceived in the year 1921. Construction of the statue began in 1926. The work was completed in 1931. The statue is perched on Corcovado Mountain, also known as Hunchback Mountain. It is situated in Tijuca National Park. The site is popular for excursions and walking. The statue of Cristo Redentor offers spectacular views of Rio de Janeiro’s downtown and pristine beaches.
The mountain that houses the statue is also known as El Jorobado, meaning ‘The Humped’. Get splendid views of the river and surrounding regions from the statue. This mammoth statue is illuminated in the night.
The statue is situated on the famous Corcovado Hill. The Statue of Cristo Redentor is considered to be a masterpiece of ‘art deco’. The statue’s pedestal is eight meters tall. It weighs nearly 1.145 tons. The statue is located nearly 709 meters over sea level.
The statue saw its inauguration on October 13, 1931. It was the day of Santa Patrona de Brazil. The construction of the statue took five years to finish. The statue was remodeled recently.
The plan to erect a religious monument was initially suggested to Princess Isabel in the year 1959. During that time, Brazil was still a monarchy. A road and railway line were developed to achieve better access.
The statue of Cristo Redentor belongs to the Historic Heritage of the country. Escalators and elevators were introduced in 2003. This greatly helped old and handicapped individuals. The statue has become an icon for the catholic population in Brazil. The chapel of Nossa Senhora de Aparecida is a popular venue for baptism ceremonies, weddings, and other celebrations.
In the year 2007, the statue was included in the list of New Seven Wonders in the World. The people of Portugal celebrated immensely. Nearly 100 million votes were cast via telephone and Internet.
Many souvenirs are available in the form of t-shirts and photographs. Small, replica statues made of wood are also available.
