Monument in brazil to jesus. Sculptural compositions (15). Monuments to Jesus. Where is the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Brazil is different from many others southern countries the fact that there are practically no natural ones in it. Despite the presence in the territory of the state of many mountain ranges, active volcanoes there isn't. Devastating floods or dangerous tsunamis have also not been recorded. The Brazilians themselves believe that on the seventh day the Lord did not rest, but created a great capital. This city is spread among the endless sandy beaches and even climbed the slopes of huge granite rocks. And on top of one of the highest hills - Corcovado - rises the world-famous statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, as if hugging the city. It is she who, in the unanimous opinion of all the townspeople, keeps him from all misfortunes.

Statue of the prophet Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro

The idea of creating some kind of monumental monument - a symbol of the nation, came to the mind of one of the city officials back in 1922. Then, throughout the country, the centenary of Brazil's independence from Portugal was celebrated on a grand scale. Rio de Janeiro in those days was the capital of the state and it was in this city that they decided to erect a grandiose monument on the Corcovado hill, since its top was flat and was an ideal platform for construction. In addition, back in 1884, a railway was built leading to this mountain. It was used to deliver multi-ton building materials for the erection of the statue.

I must say that initially the government of the country planned to create a monument to Christopher Columbus. However, most of the townspeople met this proposal with indignation. The O Cruzeiro magazine held a general vote. As a result, it was decided that the statue of Christ the Redeemer will be located in Rio de Janeiro at this very place.

At the competition of projects, the idea of depicting Christ with open arms, as if wishing to embrace the whole city and at the same time resembling a cross, was recognized as the best. And the symbol of the Christian faith, and compassion, and the desire to help all people expressed this figure.

A nationwide fundraiser was announced for the erection of a statue of Christ. The church actively joined this project and also announced the collection of donations. In a fairly short period of time, a colossal amount for those times was collected - more than 2 million reais. But the financial problem was not the only one. In Brazil at the beginning of the 20th century, there were simply no technological conditions for creating such grand building. France came to the rescue. It was in this country that the frame and plaster sketches of the details of the statue were made. They were delivered on ships to Brazil, and already on the spot, according to schemes made of soapstone, talcolour, they completed the main parts of the statue, raised them to the mountain, where a reinforced concrete pedestal had already been erected, and assembled them together. By the way, the stone itself was brought from Sweden, and not only French, but also Romanian sculptors worked on the creation, for example, of the head of Christ. The project "Statue of Christ the Redeemer: Rio de Janeiro" was implemented with the participation of other countries.

Opening ceremony of an architectural masterpiece

This super-scale construction was carried out for nine long years. When all the work was completed, the ceremony of consecration and opening of the statue took place. Hundreds of thousands of tourists and believing pilgrims from all over the world gathered for this event. A few days before the opening, which, by the way, took place on October 12, 1931, the statue was covered with a huge cloth. Therefore, she appeared before the audience only at night. Hundreds of spotlights suddenly flared up in pitch darkness, and before the eyes of the astonished those present, it seemed to soar in the air. giant statue Christ in Rio de Janeiro with outstretched hands to the people. Since then, for 85 years now, every day in Rio de Janeiro, any of its happy residents, as well as everyone who visits this city, can admire with delight such an action unfolding every evening on the Corcovado hill.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer: Rio de Janeiro - curious facts from the history of existence

During its existence, the statue, which has become a symbol not only of the city, but of the whole country, has “overgrown”, as usual, with a considerable number of legends, superstitions and curious coincidences. Here are just a few of them:

Although it is officially believed that the idea to create a statue on a hill appeared in 1922, back in the 19th century, namely in 1859, a certain priest, Father Pedro, asked Princess Isabella for money to build a statue of Jesus Christ on Corcovado hill. He even offered to dedicate this building to a lady, but there was no reciprocal interest on the part of the royal person, and the project did not take place.

In 2008, a storm of unprecedented magnitude swept over Rio de Janeiro. The city and its environs were a large number of all kinds of destruction: damaged houses, power lines, roads. But the statue of Jesus remained unharmed, although, as eyewitnesses could observe, lightning more than once fell directly into it. Atheists attribute this miracle to the dielectric properties of soapstone, but Christians believe given fact real work of God.

In 2010, another one ended in South Africa. At this time, at the foot of the statue, football fans, who, as you know, there are a great many in Brazil, placed a banner calling for a visit to the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in 2014. Their efforts, as you know, were crowned with success - such a boom in the arrival of fans was not recorded at any championship.

In preparation for the statue's 50th anniversary celebration, a French artist suggested painting the entire figure blue. In her opinion, it is he who symbolizes peace and should bring it to people. She even received the blessing of the Brazilian bishop. However, when all necessary equipment delivered to the place, a real hours-long tropical downpour hit the city. The statue remained in its usual gray-green color, and believers believe that the Almighty did not like this idea.

There is no doubt that the statue of Jesus Christ, installed in Rio de Janeiro, will delight Brazilians and guests of the country for many years to come, and will bring many more amazing miracles. To believe in them or not is the personal choice of each person.

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 railway 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 deck, 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 him, Christ with outstretched arms should have stood on a plinth 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. The finished parts were transported to Brazil, after which they were transported by rail to the top of Corcovado. 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 character 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.

The Russian Orthodox Church kept aloof from this monument, significant for Christianity, for quite a long time, 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 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 famous statue 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 Atlantic Ocean.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer on the map

Geographic coordinates (-22.952279, -43.210644)
Distance from the capital of Brazil city of Brasilia about 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. famous beaches 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 scenery 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 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 Money. 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 in Paris champs elysees recently opened Arcade Gallery, and as I was walking I saw beautiful fountain covered with silver mosaic. 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 reverse side 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

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. Is located high altitude above former capital on Corcovado mountain, which offers a panoramic view. 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. So observation deck the pedestal offers a circular view of the surroundings: the ocean, Ipanema beach, mountain range and 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 - for the first time they held Orthodox services, 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 Chinese 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 in common 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. The traffic is moving under vertical angle through the 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.

Rio is the place that Ostap Bender so dreamed of getting to. This amazing city famous all over the world for its beaches, warm azure ocean, Maracana stadium, sugar loaf and many others.

But the main attraction of the city can be called the statue of Christ the Redeemer (port. Cristo Redentor). It is, without a doubt, a must-see for all tourists coming to Brazil.

Jesus Christ is not only the main symbol of this country, but also the largest Art Deco building in the world. The majestic monument is located on top of the 700-meter Corcovado mountain (humpback mountain, as the Brazilians call it).

With this very high point Rio opens beautiful view to the city spread out at the foot of the magnificent beaches Iponema and Leblon, huge fresh lake Rodrigo de Freitas and peak sugar loaf- another attraction of Rio.

From here you can see the huge bowl of one of the largest Maracanã stadiums in the world. Among the modern buildings of Rio, like multi-colored patches, interspersed with favelas, the poorest areas of the city.

In 2007, the monument was officially included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World. More than 20 million people around the world voted for him.

Height of Jesus Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro

The height of the monument is 38 m. Of these, 9 meters is the length of the pedestal made of marble, in which there was a place for a small chapel of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil.

Divine services and various ritual events are held here.

The chapel appeared not immediately, but in honor of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the monument.

The statue itself was repeatedly consecrated by the ministers of the Roman Catholic Church. For the first time this happened on the opening day, then in 1965 it was consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981 by John Paul II.

Christ seems to be embracing the city, spread out at the foot of Mount Corcovado. His gesture expresses pride and compassion at the same time. The span of this huge hug is 23 meters. That is why from a distance the statue resembles a cross.

Many experienced tourists recognize the statue of Christ as the most grandiose and majestic of all that they have seen. This impression is formed not only because of the impressive size of the monument, but also because of the place in which it is located.

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

The idea of creating a monument belongs to the artist Carlos Oswald. According to his original idea, Christ was supposed to stand on the globe. But after much debate, in 1922, the project of the engineer Heitor de Silva Costa began to be implemented, whose bust can be seen nearby at the foot of the statue. In addition to him, many brilliant craftsmen from different countries took part in the construction and design of the monument.

Created Christ on the voluntary donations of Catholics around the world. The Roman Catholic Church. In general, the construction cost 250 thousand US dollars, which for that time was a huge amount.

In those days, Brazil did not have all the necessary tools and technologies to build such a grandiose monument. Therefore, parts of it were made in France and then transported by sea to Brazil.

Sculptor Paul Landowski made the head and hands of Christ. Just think about these numbers: the statue's arms weigh about 20 tons. The head is over 30 tons. The body is over 1000 tons. The total weight of the monument together with the pedestal exceeds 1100 tons.

It was originally planned that the monument would have an iron frame. But then it was decided to make it entirely of reinforced concrete for greater strength and cover it with soapstone, which was brought to Brazil from Sweden especially for this purpose.

In October 1931, the grand opening of the monument took place, timed to coincide with the centenary of Brazil's independence from Portugal.

At first, only a staircase of 222 steps, called "Karakol" (snail), led to the top of the mountain. Therefore, not everyone could reach the foot of the statue. Today, the monument can be reached using escalators and lifts built in 2003. This greatly facilitated the path of even the most infirm pilgrims.

It is noteworthy that during the storm that broke out in Rio in 2008 and destroyed a good half of all buildings, the statue was not damaged at all. There are two versions of why this happened: Catholics are sure that the Almighty himself saved Christ from destruction, and more pragmatic people believe that the reason lies in the soapstone with which the statue is covered. It was he who served as a dielectric and saved Christ from damage.

But still, lightning struck the statue several times and destroyed the covering of its head and fingers. Another test fell on this monument in 2010, when vandals desecrated it under cover of night with various inscriptions.

Road to the statue of Jesus Christ

Many tourists make their journey to the foot by train. The climb up the hill is very steep, but worth it. After all, the path runs through the most picturesque park in Brazil, which is called Tijuca. This is the world's largest nature reserve, located in the city and abounding in many species of exotic plants. Therefore, already on the way to the famous monument, you will receive a lot of positive emotions.

The history of the railway, along which the train runs, delivering tourists to the foot of the monument, dates back to 1882, when Brazilian engineers Passos Pereira and Soares Terceira decided to pave the way to the top of Mount Corcovado. As a result, their grandiose plan was brought to fruition in 1884 and significantly helped in the delivery of materials for the construction of the monument.

If you, after all, are not a big fan of this type of transport, then you can get there by mini bus, which will take you to the ticket office at the foot of the monument.

The statue is visited by 2 million tourists every year. There is always a huge number of people here, so it is almost impossible to take a good picture against its background.

At the top of the mountain, all conditions have been created for the convenience of visitors. For example, if you decide to spend a few hours here, you can have a bite to eat in one of the cafes.

In the evening, the statue appears in a completely different form. Illuminated by the light of many searchlights, Jesus seems to descend from heaven, hugging the city.

An interesting fact is that initially the illumination of the statue was carried out from Rome itself using radio waves. But since the distance from Rome to Christ is more than 9000 km, often due to bad weather There were interruptions in lighting. In this regard, it was decided to carry it out directly from Rio.

Today, the monument has many doubles in different corners the globe. But none of them can be compared in majesty and beauty with the original.

Useful information for tourists

The journey by train takes approximately 20 minutes. It is advisable to reserve a ticket in advance on the official website, since having arrived at the station at 10 o'clock, you will most likely stand in a huge queue and get to the foot of the mountain only after 5-6 hours.
It is better to conquer Corcovado on a fine sunny day. In cloudy weather, the statue can disappear into the fog in a matter of minutes.
Don't forget to bring sunglasses and a hat, as it can get very hot on top of the mountain.
In order to take good pictures and not jostle in the crowd of people, it is worth visiting the monument early in the morning, when there are a minimum number of tourists at its foot. If you still can’t take pictures, then anyone near the statue can order them from a professional photographer who will not only successfully capture you against the backdrop of the sights, but also print the photo in a matter of minutes.
Souvenirs on the theme of various variations of the statue are best bought in souvenir shops right on the top of the mountain, since they are much cheaper here than in other shops in the city.

How to get to the monument

From the beaches to the station from which trains depart to the foot of Carcovado, it is best to take buses 570 and 584.

You can use the services of a taxi that will take you to the foot and agree to wait until you see the sights. It should be noted that taxi drivers are friendly towards foreign tourists.

Opening hours and prices

You can climb the mountain from 8.00 to 20.00
Travel to the foot of Corcovado by train will cost 50 reais. For children from 6 to 12 years old - 25 reais. Children under 6 travel free of charge. The train runs from 9.00 to 20.00. Every half hour.
A trip by mini bus will cost 30 reais round trip.
Taxi rental - 230 reais
A helicopter ticket to view the statue costs $150. Pleasure is certainly expensive, but it's worth it.
The climb to the top of the mountain on the escalator will cost 10 Brazilian reais.
Photo by a professional photographer (20 x 30) - 20 reais
Lunch at one of the cafes on top of Carcovado will cost approximately 45 reais.