The tallest statues of Jesus Christ in the world, which many have not heard of. Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio. Brazil

The statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro is rightfully considered the main attraction of the city, as well as one of the symbols of freedom and peace throughout the world. Moreover, the Brazilian statue is on the list of the seven newest wonders of the world, sharing this honorary title with such well-known sights as the Roman Colosseum, Mexico's Chichen Itza, the Great Wall of China and other celebrities.

Curious facts about the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro

- - For the first time, the idea of erecting such a monument in the city was put forward back in the distant 50s of the 19th century by a Catholic priest named Pedro Maria Boss. However, at that time he did not succeed in bringing the project to life. Later, in 1921, the idea of erecting a religious monument was put forward for public consideration again - this time, by united efforts, the Catholics of the city managed to achieve their goal. It is from this moment that the history of the statue of Christ the Savior, famous today, begins.
  - After 9 years of painstaking work (raising funds and directly erecting a statue), on October 12, 1931, this miracle was installed on the top of Mount Corcovado. Reinforced concrete and soapstone were chosen as the main building materials by the chief engineer of the project, Heitor da Silva Costa, as reliable and sustainable components.
  - How much did it cost to build the symbol of Rio de Janeiro? The construction of the monument cost roughly the equivalent of $3 million today.
  - The height of the statue is 30 meters (30.1 meters to be exact) + the support is 6 meters high, the width of the Brazilian Jesus is 19 meters, the monument weighs about 635 tons. Thanks to its good location on top of the 700-meter Corcovado mountain, in good weather, the statue of Christ can be seen from the center of Rio and the beaches of Copacabana. So, for example, I happened to observe the main attraction of the city from the room of the Sheraton hotel where I stayed. By the way, the foot of Corcovado Mountain is located at a distance of about 6 km from the hotel.

Serious damage to the statue was caused by a lightning strike on February 10, 2008 - fragments on the eyebrows, head and fingers of the monument were damaged. After the incident, the lightning rod system was restored, and the affected fragments were restored.

Another incident befell the reinforced concrete Christ in April 2010, when through the efforts of the vandals Paulo Souza dos Santos and his partner Edmar Batista de Carvalho, the head, arms and chest of the monument were defiled. The vandals committed the crime under the cover of night, taking advantage of the time gap when changing guards. For what they did, the attackers were sentenced to three years in prison, and as a public action they were "invited" to clean the walls of one of the city tunnels from graffiti. To be disrespectful to others.

How safe is it to visit the statue of Christ?

It is likely that some of you may be asking this question, because in general, Rio de Janeiro cannot be called a safe city. What are the stories and stories about the local favelas, where the poorest segments of the population live.

I digress from the topic of our conversation :-). Visiting the statue of Christ on Mount Corcovado is as safe as, for example, Red Square in Moscow. Well, or any other main attraction of the city, be it the Statue of Liberty or the Eiffel Tower :-). Reliability is protected by the zones from where trains and minibuses depart, delivering tourists to the top of Corcovado. Also, do not worry about a taxi, if this is the method you have chosen to visit the main attraction of Rio de Janeiro - the vast majority of taxi drivers are very friendly towards tourists. If I have already hinted at this, then let's take a closer look at the question of how you can get to the statue of Christ and get to the top of Mount Corcovado.

How to get to the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro?

The most carefree and at the same time expensive way to get to the top of Corcovado is to rent a car (or taxi). It was this option that we chose with friends to visit the monument, which I later regretted a little. We rented a taxi for the day, paying about $100 (we were 6 people). The taxi driver took us from the hotel in Corcovado, waited while we see the sights, and then took us to Copacabana beach. All in all, given that there were 6 of us and each paid less than $20, not too bad. I remember very well how at first we did not trust the taxi driver when he immediately asked for the entire amount as an advance payment: what if he gives a “tear” while we are taking pictures with Jesus :-). But after all, you can’t fool us so easily, so we first photographed the car and captured its number. But in the end, we didn’t have to worry about this, the taxi driver actually turned out to be an honest and decent person. Of the minuses - the trip turned out to be very boring and uneventful, we never rode to the top by train.
The train to the top of the mountain and the statue of Christ is, in my opinion, the most interesting and colorful way. By car, you can run into houses, but by train you don’t get to the top of the mountain every day :-). Of the minuses of this option to get to the statue of Christ, I would note only queues and a long wait for transport during peak hours. The cost of a round-trip train ride and a visit to the attraction is 46 Brazilian reais ($23). From the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana, the station from which trains run can be reached by buses at numbers 570, 583 and 584.
The cheapest way to visit the main attraction of Rio de Janeiro is to use the services of a minibus. The cost of a round trip and entrance in this case will be 27 reais per person (approximately $ 13.5).

The statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro (Cristo Redentor) is the most famous symbol of the city and all of Brazil. Included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It is located at a high altitude above the former capital on Mount Corcovado, which offers panoramic views. It is the most visited tourist attraction and one of the most recognizable in the world. The oldest railway in the country carries it to the top.

History of creation

Preparations for construction began as early as 1884 with the creation of the Corcovado railway. She was the first to run on electricity in Brazil. A length of 3824 meters led from the foot of the mountain to the top. At that time it was one of the most progressive engineering structures.

In 1991, the 100th anniversary of the country's independence was approaching. The government decided to create the main symbol, which would not only decorate the area, but also attract a tourist flow. The project of the monument to Jesus Christ was proposed by Carlos Oswald. He owns the idea of an image with outstretched arms, so that the cross can be read from afar.

Initially, the figure was supposed to stand on a pedestal in the form of a globe, but it was decided to abandon the idea due to the impossibility of a modern design.

Collecting money was accepted by the entire population. In the magazine "Cruzeiro" they left an announcement about the required amount. The church leadership also got involved. Managed to collect 3.5 million dollars. Construction went on from 1922 to 1931. But the final draft was changed. The author was the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa.

The creation of the details of the monument took place in France, since it was not technically possible to do this under local conditions. Each detail was separately sailed here by ship, and then lifted by rail. Then she was transferred to the very top along a winding staircase of 220 steps. On October 12, the grand opening and consecration of the facility took place.

Description of the monument

The attraction is made of reinforced concrete: the concrete part rests on iron beams inside. The exterior is lined with "soapstone" or soapstone finishes. This material was found in the vicinity. The cobblestones were broken into thousands of small pieces, and then the figure was glued on the outside. The result is a beautiful ebb during sunny days.

The dimensions of the object are amazing, although it does not hold a world record. The height is 38 meters, of which 8 are on a rectangular pedestal. The location on a mountain 800 meters above sea level adds length to growth. The weight of the overall structure is 1145 tons, and the figures separately - 635 tons. The span of the arms from the fingers of one hand to the other is 28 meters.

The height of the statue of Christ the Redeemer is 38 meters

Modernization has taken place today. Installed modern lighting with multi-colored lights. In the dark, it seems that Jesus is hovering above the earth. From the observation deck at the pedestal, a circular view of the surroundings opens: the ocean, Ipanema beach, the mountain range and the stadium. In the basement, a chapel in honor of Saint Senora Aparecida and a souvenir shop were opened.

It is worth paying attention to the nature around. Corcovado is surrounded by the Tijuca National Park right in the center of Rio de Janeiro. Hundreds of species of trees, bushes, flowers and other plants grow on the territory of 3200 hectares. There are also dozens of representatives of the animal world. All of them are unique and can only be found in the Atlantic Forest. Within its limits you can also see: caves, waterfall, platinum and other places.

Monument today

In 1965, the monument was consecrated again. This was done by Pope Paul VI. In 1981, the 50th anniversary was widely celebrated, to which John Paul II was invited. 2007 - Orthodox services were held for the first time, and in 2016 prayer chants were held with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill. Prayers were read in Portuguese and Church Slavonic.

1980 and 1990 - repairs were carried out. In 2000, night lighting was installed, and in 2003, an escalator was added to the stairs, which created greater accessibility. An unpleasant incident occurred in 2010, when vandals painted the figure with black paint. Luckily, she was easily washed away soon.

Interesting facts about the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Every year the attraction is struck by lightning. On average this happens 4 times. Two of these cases chipped off the tips of the fingers.
In 2007, the place was officially listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, along with the Great Wall, Machu Picchu and the Colosseum.
The attraction has been shown in more than 15 films and TV shows, for example: Twilight, Fast and Furious 5, 1 + 1, 2012, Rio, I Love You and others.
There is a religious belief that, having risen up the stairs, a person is forgiven all his sins.
There are a number of similar monuments in the world: in Lisbon, in Indonesia on the island of Sulawesi, in Vietnam, in Italy, etc.
Services are constantly held in the chapel on the territory, and weddings and religious holidays are often held.

Ticket price

You can buy tickets online on the official portal or at one of the offices listed on the website. The price depends on the age of the visitor and the tourist season:

adult ticket on ordinary days - 65 reais;
adult on holidays and weekends - 79 reais;
from 5 to 11 years old - 51 real;
up to 4 years - free of charge.

The price includes travel by bus or train through the jungle and climb to the panoramic area. This trip itself already surprises with its beauty and extreme. Traffic moves at an almost vertical angle through trees and beautiful views. To travel, you must arrive at a certain time, which is indicated after the purchase. The train departs every day from 08:00 to 19:00 every 30 minutes. Travel time is 20 minutes each way.

How to get to the statue of Christ the Redeemer

To go to the location, you need to find the Trem do Corcovado train station. You can get there by public transport:

bus stop Rua Cosme Velho próximo ao 412 on lines 118, 422, 497, 580, 581, 583 and 584;
the nearest metro station is Largo do Machado, but from there you will need to take the above buses.

To travel with a rental car, drive through Estr. das Paineiras to the foot of the mountain, coordinates: -22.946208, -43.217748. Then leave the car in the parking lot, and then go up the stairs or the escalator.

Taxis in the city are most often hailed on the streets, but there are three ordering apps: EasyTaxi, 99TAXIS or Uber.

The visiting card of Rio, and, perhaps, the whole of Brazil, is located on the peak of Corcovado above the city, with huge outstretched arms trying to embrace the whole world, to give it peace and prudence. A recognized symbol of the country and the Christian faith. You must have recognized him. This is the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer.

In any guide to Brazil, it will be on the front pages. The monument is located in the southeastern part of Rio de Janeiro, 3.5 kilometers from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer on the map

Geographic coordinates (-22.952279, -43.210644)
The distance from the capital of Brazil, the city of Brasilia, is approximately 950 km in a straight line.
The nearest airport is Santos Dumont, 7 km to the northeast.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer (in the Portuguese version of Cristo Redentor) is visible from anywhere in Rio, because it was erected at an altitude of 710 meters above the ocean. From the platform near the statue, simply incredible views of the surrounding area open up. All of Rio in the palm of your hand. The famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana are three to four kilometers away. Six kilometers to the east rises a mountain called "Sugar Loaf". 5 kilometers to the north is the Maracana Olympic Stadium. Guanabara Bay and the infinity of the Atlantic Ocean complete the overall picture.

Breathtaking landscapes and gorgeous views are an integral part of this attraction. The statue itself looks no less dizzying. This is one of the tallest statues of Jesus on the planet.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer in numbers

Total height - 38 meters
The height of the sculpture itself is 30.1 meters
Base height - 8 meters
The length of the divorced hands at the fingertips is 28 meters
The weight of the statue is approximately 635 tons (some sources indicate the figure 1,145 tons, most likely this is the total weight of the structure along with the pedestal)

Today, the statue of Christ the Redeemer is one of the most famous and attractive sights in the world. Every year up to 2 million tourists come here, so it is almost impossible to find the monument deserted. A railway track has been laid to the top of Corcovado, along which a small train runs every 20 minutes from 8-30 to 18-30. Officially, the attraction is open to visitors from 8-00 to 19-00. But, as you understand, there are people here even at night.

History of the statue

Initially, the young French priest Pierre-Marie Bosse drew attention to Mount Corcovado back in 1859. He served as chaplain in a small church in what is now Botafogo. The windows of the church overlooked Mount Corcovado. One day, standing at the window, he saw a breathtaking landscape that inspired him to create a religious monument. Pierre-Marie shared his thoughts with colleagues, and everyone supported him. The idea is good, but in view of the lack of funding, it turned out to be unfeasible. The project has been frozen.

In 1882, they decided to build a railway to the top of the mountain, but not at all because of the monument. In 1884, the road was completed and put into operation. Subsequently, she provided invaluable assistance in the process of building the monument.

In 1921, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of Brazil's independence from the Portuguese monarchs, the city's old-timers remembered the idea of a French priest and decided to erect a statue. Money for such a large-scale project was raised with the help of Cruzeiro magazine, which announced a fundraising campaign (this event went down in history as “Monument Week”), and with the help of parishioners of local churches. I must say that people really liked the idea, and in the shortest possible time they collected about 2 million flights (as the Brazilian real is called in the plural).

Of the three projects, Christ the Redeemer, created by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, was chosen. Many people worked on the project. Among them is the creator of the layout, the artist Carlos Oswald (it was he who proposed to make a statue with arms spread apart). The sculptor Maximilian Paul Landowski was involved in the work on the project. Heitor da Silva made a special trip to Paris to meet with Maximilian and the engineers Albert Kaku and Heitor Levy. In addition, the sculptor from Romania Georg Leonida took part in the project (he was responsible for the head of the statue).

It was planned that the pedestal for the statue would be a ball stylized as our planet, but due to the difficulty of implementation, we decided to stay on the traditional, more stable form of the base. In the course of painstaking work, the final project of the monument was formed, which we can now see. The main emphasis was placed on the widely spaced hands of Jesus. From afar, the monument looks like a big cross - a symbol of the Christian faith. In addition, such a gesture is interpreted as a blessing, forgiveness and a simple desire to hug.

In 1922, the construction of the statue was already started, and the construction stretched out for a long 9 years. I even had to re-announce "Monument Week" in 1929 to collect the missing funds. Finally, the statue's unveiling and consecration ceremony took place on October 12, 1931.

The monument was spent 250,000 dollars, as they say, "that money." If we translate them into today's, then this is about 3.5 million dollars.

Despite its size and weight, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer seems light and airy, literally hovering over the city.

Construction process

Just the same road, carried out at the end of the 19th century, came in handy. Most of the building materials and structural elements were delivered to the summit using this road.
The main part of the monument was created on the spot, but the hands and head were created in France, delivered to Brazil in parts and assembled directly on the mountain. The base of the monument is made of reinforced concrete. The metal frame of the statue was also designed in France and delivered piece by piece to the mountain. At that time, Brazil did not have the technology to create such a design, so I had to go to such difficulties.

During construction, Heitor de Silva constantly thought that something was missing from the monument, that it needed to be given the true essence of a work of art. He recalled how in 1927 he visited the newly opened Arcade Gallery in Paris on the Champs-Elysées, and, while walking, he saw a beautiful fountain covered with silver mosaics. The reflections of light shimmered gracefully in the fountain and created exactly what Heitor wanted to reproduce in the Statue of Christ the Redeemer. Realizing what is still needed, he began to search for suitable material. And found it. It turned out to be soapstone, also known as soapstone. The beautiful, malleable, erosion-resistant material was abundant in the surrounding area. Pieces of soapstone were cut into thousands of triangles and manually glued to the surface of the statue.

It is noteworthy that some ladies from the local society wrote the names of their relatives on the back of the triangles before they were glued to the statue.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer today

Now the sculpture is not only a symbol of faith, the face of the whole country in general and the city of Rio de Janeiro in particular. It is also a recognized landmark of a planetary scale. Therefore, to the delight of travelers and residents of the city, it is highlighted. The view of Christ at night is no worse (if not better) than during the day. In 2000, a large-scale reconstruction of the lighting systems was carried out, and the monument began to sparkle with new colors.

During its existence, the statue was repeatedly subjected to cosmetic and repair work. The most significant were held in the 1980s and 1990s.

In June 1980, Pope John Paul II visited the monument. He blessed the city at the foot of the statue and declared "se deus e brasileiro o papa e carioca", which can be translated as "If God is a Brazilian, then the Pope".

In July 2007, during an Internet poll, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer was recognized as one of the 7 wonders of the world of the modern world.

In October 2007, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church held a divine service near the statue for the first time.

On April 16, 2010, the monument was vandalized for the first time in history. The hands and face of the statue were covered in paint. True, traces of barbarism were removed very quickly. There is evidence that, in addition to the traditionally abstract and understandable only to the authors, graffiti, a phrase was written on the statue, which can be translated into Russian approximately as “A cat from home - mice dance”.

In 2011, the 80th anniversary of the statue was celebrated. The holiday was great. Special honors went to Heiter de Silva Costa and Sebastien Lemay, without whom the project would not have been possible.

In February 2016, Patriarch of All Rus' Kirill performed a prayer service in support of Christianity.

When you come to Rio de Janeiro, be sure to take at least one day to view the statue and fill your phone or camera memory card with fresh and such amazing photos.
The statue is hollow inside and theoretically it is possible to take such pictures. The main thing is to do it not in a thunderstorm, otherwise a lightning strike is very, very likely, and this is unpleasant ... probably.

Visiting the monument is paid.

Here is a small list of twins.

Christ the King in Lisbon, Portugal. The height of the statue is 28 meters, and the pedestal on which it is installed is 80 meters.

Statue of Jesus with outstretched arms in Vung Tau, Vietnam. The height of the sculpture is 32 meters

sculpture of the Savior 30 meters high, installed in the city of Monado on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia

the monument in Dili in East Timor is 27 meters tall. In this monument, the creators still managed to make a globe as a pedestal

there are sculptures in other countries

1. Statue of Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro)

The statue of Christ the Redeemer (port. Cristo Redentor) is the famous statue of Christ with outstretched arms on top of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. It is a symbol of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil in general. The statue of Christ the Redeemer can rightly be considered one of the most majestic buildings of mankind. Its size and beauty, combined with the panorama that opens from the observation deck at the foot of the statue, takes the breath away from anyone who is there.

In 1921, the approaching centenary of Brazil's national independence (1822) inspired the city fathers - Rio de Janeiro was then the capital of Brazil - to create a monument to Christ the Redeemer. O Cruzeiro magazine announced a fundraiser for a subscription to the construction of the monument. The campaign raised 2.2 million reais. The church also joined the fundraising: the then Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, don Sebastian Leme, took a great part in the creation of the monument. The construction of the statue lasted about nine years - from 1922 to 1931.

The original sketch of the monument was developed by the artist Carlos Oswald. It was he who suggested depicting Christ with arms outstretched in a gesture of blessing, which would make the figure look like a huge cross from a distance. In the original version, the pedestal for the statue was supposed to be in the shape of a globe. The final design of the monument was developed by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa.

In 1924 the French sculptor Paul Landowski finished modeling the statue's head (3.75 meters high) and arms. Unassembled, all the details of the monument were delivered to Brazil and transported by rail to the top of Mount Corcovado.

On October 12, 1931, the grand opening and consecration of the monument, which became the symbol of Rio de Janeiro, took place.

The statue of Christ the Savior was made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and has a weight of 635 tons. The height of the hill on which it is installed is about 700 meters. The height of the statue itself is 39.6 meters, of which 9.5 meters is the height of the pedestal. Christ's arm span is 30 meters. Due to its size and location, the statue is clearly visible from a fairly large distance. And in certain lighting, it looks truly divine.

But even more impressive is the view of Rio de Janeiro from the observation deck located at the foot of the statue. You can climb to which you can along the freeway, and then along the steps and escalators.

Twice, in 1980 and 1990, the statue was overhauled. And also, preventive work was carried out several times. In 2008, the statue was struck by lightning and slightly damaged. Work on the restoration of the outer layer on the fingers and head of the statue, as well as the installation of new lightning rods, began in 2010. It was then that the statue of Christ the Savior was subjected to the first and only act of vandalism in its entire history. Someone, having climbed the scaffolding, made drawings and inscriptions on the face of Christ with paint.

Every year, about 1.8 million tourists will rise to the foot of the monument. Therefore, when the new seven wonders of the world were named in 2007, the statue of Christ the Savior was included in their list.

2. Cristo Rey (Almada, Portugal)

Christ the King (port. Cristo Rei) is a statue of Jesus Christ in Almada, Portugal. The base of the statue is located at an altitude of 113 m above the level of the Tagus River. The portico has a height of 75 meters, the statue of Christ itself is 28 meters high.

The statue of Christ was built in 1949-1959. and opened May 17, 1959. The creation of the statue was approved at the Portuguese Episcopal conference held in Fatima on April 20, 1940, as a request to God to save Portugal from being drawn into World War II. It was built on public donations, mainly on the money of women. Portugal did not participate in the Second World War, so women donated money to the statue of Christ, as he saved their sons, husbands and fathers from death, preventing Portugal from participating in hostilities.

3. "Christ from the Abyss" (Bay of San Fruttuoso, Italy)

"Christ from the Abyss" is the well-established name of the statue of Jesus Christ, located at the bottom of the sea, in the bay of San Fruttuoso, not far from Genoa, in the waters of the Italian Riviera. The statue, about 2.5 meters high, was installed on August 22, 1954 at a depth of 17 meters. Also in different parts of the world there are several similar statues.

The idea of creating an underwater sculpture of the Savior first came up with the Italian diver Duilio Marchante during underwater meditation. In addition to the purely religious aspects, Mercante also wanted to commemorate another diver, Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian scuba diver, who died on this site in 1947.

The bronze statue of Christ was made by the sculptor Guido Galleti. Its height is about 2.5 meters. The face of the Savior is turned upwards, towards the surface of the sea and the sky above it; uplifted hands are also directed to the surface.

The statue is a very popular object among divers. This is also facilitated by the exceptional transparency of the water in the bay of San Fruttuoso. In 2003, the statue, thoroughly overgrown with algae under water for 50 years and having lost part of its arm from an unsuccessfully thrown anchor, was removed from the water, cleaned and restored, and a new pedestal was built at the bottom. On July 17, 2004, the statue was installed in its original place.

4. Statue of Christ the Savior under water (Malta)

An underwater 13-ton concrete sculpture of Christ (Malt. Kristu L-Bahhar) is located at the bottom of the sea near the islands of St. Paul in the Maltese archipelago next to Malta’s Marine Park.

The famous underwater Maltese statue of Jesus Christ was made by the famous Maltese sculptor Alfred Camilleri Cauchi. The work on the design and manufacture of an underwater statue of Jesus Christ was estimated at 1,000 Maltese lira and paid for by a committee of Maltese divers led by Raniero Borg. The Diving Committee commissioned Alfred Camilleri Cauchi to carry out this work in celebration of the 1990 visit to Malta for the first time by Pope John Paul II.

Initially, the statue was located at a depth of about 38 meters, but in 2000 it was moved to a new, much shallower - about 10 meters - place. This is due to the fact that the original statue was located next to the existing fish farms, and divers began to complain about the deterioration of water quality and poor visibility in the depths of the sea in this place. In May 2000, the underwater statue of Jesus Christ, which until then had been lying for 10 years at the bottom of the sea, was pulled out by the Maltese with a floating crane, closer to the old Malta-Gozo ferry flooded a year earlier.

5. Statue of Christ the King (Swiebodzin, Poland)

The statue of Christ the King - the world's largest statue of Jesus Christ, is installed on the southeastern outskirts of the city of Swiebodzin, in the Lubuskie province of Poland.

The initiator of the construction of the monument in 2001 was Canon Sylvester Zawadzki, a priest of the Church of Divine Mercy in Swiebodzin. On September 29, 2006, the Swiebodzin city council decided to erect a monument to Jesus Christ, who is the patron saint of the city and commune of Swiebodzin. At that time, the idea was not realized.

The sculpture was designed by Miroslav Kazimierz Patecki, realized by Tomasz Korano (Gdynia). The foundation was designed by Marian Vybranets (Swiebodzin), the structural part of the project was carried out by Dr. Jakub Marcinowski and Associate Professor Nikolai Klapec from the University of Zielona Góra. The monument was built on private donations, the builders were recruited from the parish of the local church.

Construction took about two years. Installation and welding work was carried out by the local company "Tehspav" from Skompe Lubuskie Voivodship. In December 2009, the construction was suspended, as a high-voltage power line passes near the monument. In April 2010, permission was granted and construction resumed. November 6, 2010 was completed installation of the head and crown of the monument. The official opening and consecration took place on November 21, 2010.

The total height of the monument is about 52 m, which is higher than the Cristo de la Concordia monument in Cochabamba (40.44 m with a pedestal) and the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro (39.6 m with a pedestal). The height of the statue itself with the crown is 36 m, and 16 m is the height of the stone and earthen hill. The height of the other two statues without pedestals is 34.2 m and 30 m. Thus, in 2010 this statue of Christ is the highest in the world. The maximum width of the statue (the distance between the fingertips) is about 25 m.

The hollow monument is made of monolithic reinforced concrete on a steel frame. The mass of the structures is 440 tons. The installation was carried out in stages: first, the body of the statue was installed with a crane, then the shoulder girdle and the head with a crown.

The gilded crown of the statue is 3.5 meters in diameter and about 3 meters high. The head of the monument is 4.5 m high and weighs 15 tons. According to other sources, the head is made of hard plastic, and not of concrete, as originally assumed, due to which its weight has been reduced by a factor of three.

6. Cristo de la Concordia (Cochabamba, Bolivia)

Cristo de la Concordia (Spanish: Cristo de la Concordia) is a statue of Jesus Christ located on San Pedro Hill in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The height of the statue is 34.2 meters, the pedestal is 6.24 meters, the total height is 40.44 meters. Thus, the statue is 2.44 meters taller than the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, making it the largest statue in the Southern Hemisphere.

The construction of the monument began on July 12, 1987 and was completed on November 20, 1994. Designers Cesar and Walter Terrazas Pardo made it in the likeness of a statue in Rio de Janeiro. Installed at an altitude of 256 meters above the city, the statue rises to 2840 meters above sea level. It weighs approximately 2200 tons. The head of the statue is 4.64 meters high and weighs 11,850 kg. Arm span 32.87 meters. The area of the monument is 2400 sq. m. 1399 steps lead to the observation deck inside the statue. The statue is made of steel and concrete.

7 Andean Christ

The monument to Christ the Redeemer was erected on March 13, 1904 at the Bermejo Pass in the Andes - on the border line between Argentina and Chile. The opening of the monument marked the celebration of the peaceful settlement of the conflict over the border dispute between the two countries that were on the brink of war.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Pope Leo XIII sent a series of encyclicals asking for peace, harmony and devotion to Christ the Redeemer. Given this request, and concerned about the possibility of a military conflict between Argentina and Chile due to disputes over the border, the Bishop of Cuyo region, Marcelino del Carmen Benavente, publicly promised to build a statue of Christ the Redeemer, which would remind him of his covenant to keep peace. The statue, 7 meters high, was made by the sculptor Mateo Alonso and for some time was kept on display in the patio of the Lacordaire school in Buenos Aires.

The Association of Christian Mothers arrived at this school, whose president was Angela de Oliveira Cesar de Costa. She believed that it would be more correct to erect a statue in the Andes, on the border separating the two countries, in case they sign a peace agreement. Thus, the statue would become a symbol of the union of the two nations. Angela worried about the possibility of conflict, also because her brother, who was a general, was in the mountains preparing for what seemed to be an inevitable war. With her help (she was acquainted with the President of Argentina, Julio Argentino Roca), it was possible to attract the interest of the governments of both countries to the project.

In May 1902, Argentina and Chile signed a peace agreement that became known as the May Pact. Angela began to mobilize forces in order to obtain funds for collecting signatures, and, together with Bishop Benavente, asked that the statue be transported to the province of Mendoza in order to install it on the path along which General San Martin led the liberation army in 1817, on the border between the two countries.

In 1904, the bronze parts of the statue were loaded onto a train and transported over 1,200 km to the Argentine village of Las Cuevas, and then, with the help of mules, they were raised to the top of a mountain at 3,854 meters above sea level. On February 15, 1904, under the direction of engineer Conti, the construction of a granite pedestal was completed (designed by Molina Sivita). About a hundred workers took part in the construction. Sculptor Mateo Alonso supervised the assembly of parts of the statue. The figure of Christ was placed so that it looked along the border. Christ stands on the earth's hemisphere, his left hand holds a cross, and with his right he seems to give a blessing. The height of the statue reaches almost seven meters. The four-ton granite pedestal reaches a height of six meters.

On March 13, 1904, three thousand Chileans and Argentines came to the opening of the monument, despite the fact that it was located in a desert area. Also, the armies of the two countries arrived, which until recently were going to fight against each other. Together they fired a solemn salvo.

A few years later, severe weather destroyed the cross of Christ. It was restored in 1916 using bronze, which was intended for casting commemorative medals dedicated to the 1904 event.

In 1993, due to climate and seismic activity that damaged the site, the stability of the monument was compromised. The Mendoza government provided funds to renovate the monument and two nearby buildings that were sometimes used as meteorological stations.

8. Statue of the Sacred Heart of Christ (Fr. Madeira)

The statue of the Sacred Heart of Christ (port. Sagrado Cora?? o de Jesus) is a landmark of the island of Madeira and one of the symbols of Christianity. It represents the figure of the Savior with arms outstretched for embrace. This statue was erected in 1927 long before its counterparts - the statues of the Savior in Rio de Janeiro and Almada.

9. Statue of Jesus Christ in Vung Tau (Vietnam)

The Catholic Association of Vietnam began construction of the statue of Jesus Christ in 1974. This monument was erected in Vung Tau in 1993 on the top of Mount Nho, at an altitude of 170 meters above sea level. The total height of the statue is 36 meters, and the span of the arms is 18.45 m. A spiral staircase is installed inside it, along which you can climb to the top of the statue. This place offers a beautiful view of the surroundings of the city of Vung Tau and the South China Sea.

At the moment, the statue is in great danger. Due to the need for stone and sand, necessary for the construction of new buildings, the Small Mountain continues to decrease even now. The southern escarpment of the mountain today is considerably eroded. The extraction of material is carried out almost at the very base of the statue.

10. Statue of Jesus Christ in Manado (Indonesia)

The figure with raised arms, made of 35 tons of steel and 25 tons of metal fiber, is 30 meters high. It towers over the city of Manado on the island of Sulawesi. The production of the statue cost one of the richest people in Indonesia, Tsiputra, 540 thousand dollars and took almost three years. The statue was unveiled in 2007. Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, but in the eastern regions, where the city of Manado is located, the Christian population predominates.

One of the most famous statues in the world and certainly the most recognizable in Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, with outstretched arms in a blessing gesture, it looks at the huge city below it. The statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height, a beautiful view of the ten-millionth city with its bays, beaches, the Maracanã stadium opens up.

In 1884, a small railway was built on the mountain, along which building materials were delivered just later. The reason for the erection of the monument of Christ was the approaching centenary of the independence of Brazil in 1922. Fundraising was announced to create a monument in what was then the capital of Brazil. For example, the magazine "O Cruzeiro" collected about 2.2 million reais from its subscription. The church, represented by Archbishop Sebastian Leme, was also actively involved in the preparation of the financial fund.

The idea of Christ with outstretched arms, resembling a cross from a distance, belongs to the artist Carlos Osvaldo. According to this first layout, the statue of Christ was supposed to stand on the globe.

The final project, according to which the sculpture was created, was created by Heitor da Silva Costa. According to it, the height of the structure is 38 meters, of which 8 meters goes to the pedestal, and the arm span reaches 28 meters. With such striking dimensions, the total weight of the structure was 1145 tons.

Brazilian technology at that time did not allow most of the work on the implementation of such a project, so all the details of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil were created in France, from where they were safely delivered to Brazil and lifted to the installation site by the built railway. From the end of the railway to the statue itself, a path of 220 steps was built, called "Karakol". Interestingly, there is a chapel inside the basement of the monument.

The construction of the monument took about nine years. The opening and consecration of the statue took place on October 12, 1931. The statue quickly assumed the role of a symbol of Rio de Janeiro and all of Brazil. And in 2007 she was chosen as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

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Statue of Christ the Redeemer: history and location

Where is the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Many have seen images of a huge statue of Jesus Christ with arms spread wide. Its correct name is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It rises above the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and is located not far from it on the peak of Mount Corcovado. A chic view is this statue in the evening. Illuminated by pillars of light, the figure of Christ seems to be descending into the sleeping city. In Rio de Janeiro, no matter where you look, you will always see this huge statue, which seems to be striving to embrace the whole world with its gigantic arms.

The history of the creation of the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Since ancient times, the mountain on which the statue rises was called the Mountain of Temptation and was mentioned in the Bible. Later, in the Middle Ages, it was called Corcovado, which means "hunchback". This name was given to her in connection with a bizarre shape that resembled a hump. The first expedition to this mountain went in 1824.

For the first time, the idea of creating a statue of Christ on Mount Corcovado came up with the Catholic clergyman Pedro Maria Boss in 1859. When he arrived in Rio de Janeiro, the magnificent view of the mountain overwhelmed him. Then Father Pedro decided to ask Princess Isabella, daughter of the Emperor of Brazil, to finance this project. And to ensure the success of his business, he proposed to name the statue in honor of the princess. However, in those days, the state could not afford such a large expense, so the decision to erect the statue was postponed until 1889. However, even then the plan of Father Pedro was not destined to come true. The church was separated from the state during the change in the form of government, and the clergy could no longer ask for funding for such projects.

In 1884, the construction of the railway was completed, which ran just up to Mount Corcovado. Later, materials for the construction of the statue were brought along this road.

The idea of building a statue of Christ the Redeemer was remembered only in 1921.

Then, at the initiative of the Catholic organizations of Rio de Janeiro, it was decided to erect a statue on Mount Corcovado, colossal in size, which could be seen from any part of the city. This monument was to become not only a symbol of Christianity, but also a symbol of the liberation and revival of the country. During the week activists collected signatures and donations, this period was called "Monument Week". The inhabitants of the city liked this idea, they willingly donated various amounts of money. Of course, the church also made considerable financial investments. The erection of the statue of Christ the Redeemer is a real folk project.

The erection of the statue of the "fathers of the city" was also inspired by the fact that very soon, in 1922, Brazil was to celebrate 100 years of independence from Portugal. Therefore, they decided to start building the monument as soon as possible. April 22, 1921 is considered the start date for the creation of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It was decided to build a monument of reinforced concrete and soapstone.

For the version of the statue that now towers over Rio de Janeiro, we should be grateful to the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. It was he who suggested depicting Christ with arms outstretched to the sides. The meaning of this pose lies in the phrase "Everything that exists is in the hands of the Lord."

The artist Carlos Oswald completed the image of Christ, and the calculations for the installation of the monument were made by Costa Hisses, Pedro Viana and Heitor Levy. In 1927, everything was ready for the erection of the statue of Christ the Redeemer - from drawings and calculations to materials.

The records of those times say that everyone involved in the project was inspired and made every effort. Some engineers and artists even pitched tents and lived near the site where the statue was erected.

An interesting fact is that foreigners also helped the Brazilians in the construction of this monument. For example, the head and hands of Christ were made of plaster in France by the sculptor Paul Landowski and later shipped to Brazil. Also, many French engineers participated in the development of drawings. They also suggested using a reinforced concrete frame, although before that it was decided to make a steel frame. And the soapstone from which the outer layer of the statue was made was brought from Sweden. This material was most suitable for such a colossal structure due to its strength and ease of use.

The erection of the statue lasted about 4 years and, finally, in 1931, a solemn ceremony of opening the statue of Christ the Redeemer took place. The size and complexity of the execution of the monument struck then all those present at the ceremony. There were tears in the eyes of many believers. And after many years, people continue to be amazed by this truly gigantic structure, which carries a hidden meaning.

The greatness of the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Every year, thousands of tourists and pilgrims make the long journey to marvel at the majesty of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. At the same time, the huge and meek figure of Christ spreads his arms over Rio de Janeiro, and maybe the whole world, as if embracing and protecting him. This monument has been recognized as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. Its height is 38 meters, the arm span is 30 meters, and the monument weighs 1145 tons.

An interesting fact is that during the strongest storm that swept through Rio de Janeiro on July 10, 2008 and caused a lot of destruction to the city, it did not affect the statue of Christ the Redeemer in any way. Even the lightning that hit her left no trace. Pragmatists associate this with the dielectric properties of soapstone, and believers, of course, attach sacred meaning to this fact.