Monument with outstretched arms. Statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro: description with photo, history of creation, height, location, how to get there, tips and recommendations from tourists

The statue of Christ the Redeemer is not just a landmark of Rio de Janeiro, it is the pride of Brazil, as well as one of the most popular symbols of Christianity in the world. Millions of tourists dream of seeing one of modern wonders world, but most often they choose the time of the celebration of the carnival to visit this city. If there is a desire to enjoy the beauty and spirituality of the monument, it is better to choose a quieter time, however, in any case, it will not work to wait for a complete absence of visitors.

Stages of construction of the statue of Christ the Redeemer

For the first time, the idea of ​​creating a unique statue as a symbol of Christianity appeared in the 16th century, but then it was not possible to implement such a global project. Later, in the late 1880s, construction began on a railroad leading to the top of Mount Corcovado. Without it, it would be difficult to implement the project, because during the construction of the statue, heavy elements, building materials and equipment had to be transported.

In 1921, preparations were made in Brazil for the celebration of the centennial anniversary of independence, as a result of which the idea of ​​\u200b\u200berecting a statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of a mountain was born. The new monument was supposed to become a key element of the capital, as well as attract tourists to observation platform, with which the whole city is at a glance.

To raise money, the Cruzeiro magazine was involved, which organized a subscription for the erection of a monument. According to the results of the fees, more than two million flights were received. The church also did not stand aside: Don Sebastian Leme, the archbishop of the city, allocated a considerable amount for the construction of a statue of Jesus from the donations of parishioners.

The total period for the creation and installation of Christ the Redeemer was nine years. The original design belongs to the artist Carlos Oswald. According to his idea, Christ with outstretched arms was supposed to stand on a pedestal in the form the globe. The modified version of the sketch belongs to the hand of the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, who made changes to the shape of the pedestal. This is how you can see the famous Christian monument today.

Due to the underdevelopment of technology most elements were made in France. Finished parts were transported to Brazil, after which railway transported to the top of Corcovada. In October 1931, the statue was illuminated during a solemn ceremony. Since then, it has become a recognized symbol of the city.

Description of the construction of the monument

A reinforced concrete structure was used as a frame for the statue of Christ the Redeemer, the monument itself is made of soapstone, there are elements of glass. artistic feature is the pose of a giant. Christ stands with outstretched hands, identifying, on the one hand, universal forgiveness, on the other, the blessing of the people. Moreover, this position of the body from afar resembles a cross - main symbol Christian faith.

The memorial cannot be attributed to the highest in the world, but at the same time it impresses with its impressiveness due to its location on the top of the mountain. His absolute height is 38 meters, eight of which fall on the pedestal. The whole structure weighs about 630 tons.

Another feature of the statue is night illumination, which at times enhances the effect of the spiritual significance of the monument for all believers. The rays are directed at Christ in such a way that it seems as if the giant descends from heaven in order to bless his children. The spectacle is truly impressive and deserves the attention of everyone, so even at night there are no fewer tourists in Rio de Janeiro.

The history of the monument after its discovery

When the statue of Christ the Redeemer was built, local representatives of the church immediately consecrated the monument, after which, on significant days, services began to be held at the foot. The re-illumination was in 1965, this honor was taken over by Pope Paul VI. On the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the monument, the supreme representatives of the Christian church were present at the celebration ceremony.

Since the existence of Christ the Redeemer, serious repairs have already been carried out twice: the first in 1980, the second in 1990. Initially, a staircase led to the pedestal of the statue, but in 2003 escalators were installed to simplify the “conquest” of the top of Corcovado.

Russian Orthodox Church for quite a long time she stayed away from this significant monument for Christianity, but in 2007 the first divine service was held next to the pedestal. During this period, the Days of Russian Culture were designated in Latin America, which caused the arrival of many significant people, including the hierarchs of the church. In February last year, Patriarch Kirill held a service in support of Christians, accompanied by the spiritual choir of the Moscow diocese.

April 16, 2010 was an unpleasant page in the history of the memorial, because on this day for the first time an act of vandalism was committed over a spiritual symbol. The face and hands of Jesus Christ were covered with black paint. It was not possible to find out the motives for these actions, and all the inscriptions were removed as soon as possible.

Given the location famous monument, it is not surprising that it becomes an ideal target for lightning. According to statistics, at least four blows hit the statue every year. Some of the damage is so visible that reconstructive measures have to be taken. For these purposes, the local diocese has an impressive stock of rock from which the giant is made.

Tourists coming to the Brazilian city can visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer in two ways. Small electric trains run to the foot of the monument, so you can get acquainted with the road laid back in the 19th century, and then see one of the new wonders of the world. Also, a freeway leads here, which passes through the largest forest area located within the city. Photo from national park Tijuca will also add to the collection of pictures about the trip to Brazil.

The most famous and majestic statue in Rio de Janeiro - the figure of Christ the Redeemer, which adorns the top of the South American mountain Corcovado.

This is the largest statue of Christ in Brazil: he spread his arms over the bustling metropolis in a blessing gesture. The construction has long attracted tourists from all over the world - tours to Corcovado are popular due to visiting viewing platforms, as well as beautiful views to a city of ten million, cozy bays and coves, clubs and Ipanema beach, to the grandiose famous Maracanã stadium. The monument was erected in the center of the Tijuca National Park.

Statue of Christ in Rio: history

In 1921, the country was preparing to celebrate the approaching centenary of Brazil's independence. By this date, it was decided to build a monument to Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado. The city authorities announced a competition for best project monument, fundraising began immediately.

• More than 2.2 million reais were collected for the construction of Christ statues in Brazil. The Catholic Church was active in financing the project. The archbishop of the city, Sebastian Leme, supervised the construction of an architectural masterpiece.

• The original version of the monument was a sketch by the talented artist Carlos Oswald, who proposed depicting the Savior with his hands open in a gesture of blessing. A statue in Brazil would become a unique symbol of the Christian faith and would look like a huge cross. They planned to install the reinforced concrete Jesus on a pedestal made in the shape of a globe. The Brazilian engineer da Silva Costa developed the final design for the national monument.

• During construction, soapstone was used, thanks to which the statue was well strengthened, giving its surface a special aesthetic.

• The country's technologies did not provide for the presence of workshops of this magnitude, therefore, in order to implement the project, it was decided to create a masterpiece in parts in France. In the mid-20s, the French sculptor Landowski modeled the head of the future statue, which was about 4 meters high. Next, we started making hands. Gradually, all the details were made of hard and pliable stone, but they needed to be carefully transported up the mountain.

• The statue in Rio de Janeiro was taken to Brazil disassembled and lifted up a small railway built specifically for this purpose. From the tracks they laid the path of Caracol - the workers lifted the details of the monument along 220 steps.

• It took nine years to build this grandiose statue in Rio de Janeiro. The height of the structure is ready-made was 38 meters, of which more than 30 meters are dedicated directly to the figure of Christ. The statue weighs 635 tons, while the span of its arms reached 28 meters. It was decided to install Jesus on a picturesque natural hill 700 meters high.

On a solemn date in October 1931, the authorities and citizens opened and consecrated this new symbol of Rio.

Design features

The most beautiful statue in Brazil, due to its majestic size and successful landscape, is perfectly visible even at a great distance. You can admire the real magnificence in the evening - the statue is lit by a whole system of huge spotlights.

Inside this statue of Christ, famous outside of Brazil, a chapel was opened, located in the basement. Now the chapel has become a place of pilgrimage for wedding corteges. Tourists willingly come here, who, in addition to impressions, try to take with them miniature stone models of the statue from the local souvenir shop.

The hands of Christ are wide open in the arms of Christ: the gesture symbolizes sincere and all-forgiving love for people. Locals believe that Jesus hugs everyone who comes to him. In 2007, the statue was chosen as one of the new wonders of the world.

The observation deck is located at the feet of the statue: you can go up there by escalator, road or steps. From the site, magical panoramas of Rio and the surrounding area open up.

For several times the monument has undergone preventive and major repairs. In 2008, the statue was hit by lightning and was slightly damaged: restoration work lasted two years. The craftsmen managed to renew the outer layer of the stone, repair the statue's fingers and head, and install new lightning rods. In the same year, the monument was subjected to an unexpected act of vandalism - climbing on the scaffolding left by the workers, the attackers left inscriptions and drawings on the face of Christ.

Every year, the statue undergoes mandatory state control and inspection, work is underway to prevent corrosion and improve the protection of the monument.

To see this grandiose statue in Brazil with your own eyes, you should go on a trip to the South American continent. Specialists will be able to offer many options for visiting this country on the most acceptable terms and at reasonable prices!

Rio de Janeiro, day two.
Today, the impression of Rio has improved significantly - apparently, Rio belongs to that rare type of city that has an absolutely faded and nondescript center and all the beauties and sights in them are scattered around the outskirts - in this Rio is somewhat similar to Los Angeles. So, from my hostel, located near the Praca Onze metro station, I got to the Cosme Velho railway station, from where trains go to Mount Corcovado, with two transfers - two buses and a metro. Upon arrival, it turned out that there were no train tickets for the next two and a half hours - a full house, everything was sold out. I really didn’t want to climb the mountain on foot, and the railway itself is a landmark: the elevation difference is 690 meters, in one place it passes over a bridge 170 meters long; so I had to wander around the Laranjeiras district while waiting for the train, choose souvenirs and drink coffee in cafes. Every cloud has a silver lining - during this time I bought all the planned Brazilian souvenirs and gifts. And just to sit for an hour in a cafe under a palm tree, slowly sipping coffee and finally realizing that you are not somewhere, but in Rio de Janeiro - it's worth a lot.

District of Laranjeiras(Laranjeiras) is a fairly prosperous area of ​​Rio. Here is the official residence of the governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro (in the Laranjeiras Palace) and the city hall (in the Guanabara Palace). Cosme Velho station surroundings:

Mount Corcovado: in 1501, after discovering the Gulf of Guanabara, Amerigo Vespucci named the hill overlooking the coast Pinaculo Da Tentação ("Top of Temptation"), following the example biblical mountain near the city of Jericho, where Jesus spent forty days fasting and was tempted by the devil. Modern name Corcovado (“hill”, “hump”) appeared already in the 17th century; one version says that the name allegedly comes from the Latin cor quo vado? (“heart, where am I going?”).

Statue of Christ the Redeemer: The idea of ​​building a religious monument on top of the mountain originated in 1859, when the Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss proposed the project to the Regent Princess Isabel, daughter of the Emperor of Brazil, Don Pedro II - but then followed the proclamation of the Republic and other violent historical events, so that all interested parties were not up to the monument. They returned to the idea again on the eve of the centenary of Brazil's independence, in the 1920s. Construction began on April 4, 1922; according to the original design, Jesus held a cross in his left hand, and a globe in his right. However, even before the completion of construction, local residents got into the habit of depicting a soccer ball instead of the globe in numerous cartoons, and the idea with a cross and a ball had to be abandoned. Grand opening statues of Christ the Redeemer(Cristo Redentor) took place on October 12, 1931; in 1937 the statue was officially recognized as a monument under state protection; in 2006 Catholic Church declared it a place of pilgrimage, and a year later, in the course of voting by SMS, telephone and Internet, it was recognized as one of the "seven wonders of the world of the New Time."




The statue is really nice and the views from the mountain are amazing - everything is wonderful, but being the world-famous "emblem" of Rio, the statue attracts insane crowds of tourists. And many of them strive to stand right in front of the statue, spread their arms to the sides and stand like that while their friends photograph them in the “statue pose” against the background of the original - you have to carefully bend around these “statues” in the crowd, trying not to touch their outstretched limbs. And one Russian-speaking comrade climbed onto the parapet, raised his hands to the sky and let his companion yell from there how exactly he should be photographed.

There was such an episode at the observation deck - someone once again yelled heart-rendingly over my ear - and out of surprise I cursed loudly in Russian. Suddenly I hear - “Are you from Russia? Hello!" It turned out that the seller of the souvenir stall, a longtime immigrant from Ukraine, heard a Russian swear word and was so happy with it that we started a friendly conversation, during which he even gave me a piece of agate from his assortment for good luck. So now I have agate from Mount Corcovado. So, it took me about five hours to visit the statue of Christ - I recommend laying down time with a margin and going there as early as possible so as not to wait for the train, like me. By the way - at 11 am, tickets were sold only for the train with departure at 13:30, and at 13:00 - only at 16:00; so, having arrived at the station by lunchtime, it is quite possible to make it to the top only by sunset. And all this was in early November, that is, not yet at the height of the tourist season.

Main attraction district of Urka(Urca) is, of course, sugarloaf mountain(Pao de Azucar). The rock rising in Guanabara Bay, along with the statue of Christ the Redeemer, is the second most popular postcard scene in Rio. bottom station cable car located on Pasteur Avenue (Avenida Pasteur, 520), from where the trailers first reach the intermediate station on the Morro da Urca hill (217 m), and from there to the top sugar loaf(395 m).




Having reached the top, I decided to wait for sunset there and look at the sunset and night Rio - judging by the reviews, this is best done from the Sugar Loaf. Looking at the panorama of Rio at night from the top of the Sugar Loaf, you begin to understand why this city is considered one of the great cities in the world. There is something mesmerizing in this spectacle - the hills in the evening haze, and the ocean rolling on the city beaches and even the favelas climbing up the hillsides.
By the way, about greatness: Rio managed to visit not only the capital of Brazil (when the capital of the Viceroyalty of Brazil was transferred here from El Salvador), but even the capital of the entire Portuguese colonial empire- when in 1808, fleeing from Napoleon, the Prince Regent of Portugal, Don Juan VI, fled to Brazil along with his entire court.

How to get to the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Mount Corcovado: first take buses 180, 405, 422, 497, 498, 569, 570, 580, 583, 584 to railway station Cosme Velho, then by train to the upper station Cristo Redentor; the price of a train ticket to Mount Corcovado is 50 reais round-trip.

How to get to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain: the bottom station of the cable car is located on Pasteur Avenue (Avenida Pasteur, 520). The ticket price for both cable cars (to the Morro da Urca station and further to the Sugar Loaf) is 62 reais round-trip. Theoretically, you can skip the first cable car and walk to the transfer station, enjoy the views and merge with nature - but this will not affect the price of the ticket, and climb high there.

In Brazil, on the top of Mount Corcovado stands one of the Seven New Wonders of the World - the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro. So observation deck at the feet of the statue, made in the art deco style, a panorama of a ten-million city with sights and beaches opens up. The laconic figure of Christ the Savior (Cristo Redentor) in the form of a protective cross is the fifth largest among a number of similar monuments located around the world. This monument is known as a religious and cultural symbol Brazil.

Arm span and head tilt

The outstretched arms (span 28 m) of Jesus, as it were, strive to embrace the whole world, simultaneously blessing and patronizing. The height of the monument is about 40 m, of which 8 m falls on a marble pedestal-base, with a chapel located inside. The colossus of Jesus is made of reinforced concrete, covered with a mosaic of triangular tiles of light-coloured soapstone.

The head of the statue is inclined towards the people, and the figure opens its arms in the direction of the sunrise. Contrary to the prevailing opinion of tourists that the monument is visible from anywhere in Rio de Janeiro, the figure even at the foot of the mountain seems small. At night, the statue is illuminated and is no less attractive for filming. It is noteworthy that as the most high point on the ground, the statue of Christ in Rio receives about four lightning strikes a year, and the lightning rods built into the head and arms are periodically maintained.

Neighborhood

The view of the landscape from the observation deck at the feet of the statue is most impressive at sunrise and sunset, and at this time there is a minimum number of tourists. It should be noted that the panorama of the surroundings is clearly visible in the clear weather of July - at other times of the year it is often foggy. In the picturesque area of ​​the Tijuca National Park, there is a statue of Christ the Redeemer - Rio de Janeiro is the owner of the world's largest woodland(39.51 km 2), located within the city (1260 km 2).

The iconic mountain Corcovado (Hump) rises above sea level at 710 m, but in the west of the park there is a higher granite massif - Pedra da Gavea , 842 m). Rio - major port on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in the east of which the entrance to Guanabara Bay is preceded by Mount Sugar Loaf (Pan di Azucar, 396 m). In the language of the local Aboriginal people from the Tupi tribe, Pan di Asukar means “guardian, guardian of the bay” - you can get to the top by funicular.

In the western zone is the longest beach in the city, 18 kilometers long, Barra de Tijuca, a year-round paradise for surfers. Of particular note is the Laguna Rodrigo de Freitas, which has access to Atlantic Ocean through a channel not suitable for swimming, but used for international rowing competitions.

The sports spirit of the Brazilians is noticeable from the top of Mount Corcovado on the "bowl" of the largest football stadium"Maracana", located in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro. Another passion local residents expressed in a huge area in the city center - the sambadrome of Marques de Sapucai. It's a kind of scene, continuation main street and the arena for the world-famous Carnival, whose fun and bright colors are silently gazed upon by the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro every year.

History of creation

Thanks to the beautiful panorama from the top of the mountain, the local Catholic priest in the mid-1850s first came up with the idea of ​​erecting a monument, which received an effective continuation only after 70 years. The monument, which was created for about 9 years, was solemnly opened in October 1931 and since then annually attracts about two million tourists. The details of the monument were made in France, after delivery to Brazil they climbed to the top of the mountain by rail, built at the end of the 19th century (1885).

The monument is periodically restored. Below is a mesmerizing video filmed by the workers.

How to get there

The railway (3800 m) is still functioning and regularly delivers from the Cosme Velho metro station every 30 minutes to the foot of the tourist monument - final destination located 40 m from the statue. Overcoming a steep ascent to the top of the mountain, two electric trains run, delivering 360 passengers per hour to Jesus.

Through national park laid highway, on which it is better to move on public transport- Taxis are allowed to pass until a certain milestone. Minibuses run regularly along the route from the square near the metro station Largo de Machado (Largo do Machado), where tickets are sold at the box office. The most enduring tourists travel by bicycle, but according to reviews, it is most reasonable to hire a personal guide with a car.

From the place of disembarkation of passengers from transport, one must walk 220 steps along the winding stairs of Caracol, which received the nickname "snail". The statue of Jesus Christ in Rio is carefully equipped local authorities elevators and escalators. Helicopter excursions starting from the Sugarloaf monolith leave an unforgettable impression on tourists. The cost of a few minutes of flight is $100 per person.

Benefits and restrictions

Payment for admission to the monument of the Savior for 2015 through the payment of a trip by electric train in both directions:

• for persons over 60 years old - $ 22;
• for other categories of the adult population, it will cost $ 56-68, depending on the season and weekdays;
• up to 5 years old children on the lap of a parent ride for free, for 6–11 years old the cost is $44.

An important fact is to provide 50% discounts on student tickets.

Due to the sacredness of the monument, people with pets and in open clothes (swimsuits, T-shirts, shorts) are not allowed to visit the top of Mount Corcovado. Professional photo and video filming should be conducted only with the permission of the administration of the national park. Having decided to return to the city on foot along the forest paths, it is vital to take care of local guide. Beyond the exuberant natural beauty, there are many impressive landscapes in Rio de Janeiro architectural monuments located in historical center cities.

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, brazilian statue is in the list of seven newest wonders light, sharing it honorary title with such well-known sights as the Roman Colosseum, the Mexican Chichen Itza, the Great Chinese Wall 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 ​​building 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 favorable 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 this option to get to the statue of Christ, I would only note the queues and long wait 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.
• Most cheap way visit the main attraction of Rio de Janeiro - 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).