The largest monument in Brazil. History of the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro. The history of the creation of the illumination of Jesus Christ
1. Statue of Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro)
Statue of Christ the Redeemer (port. Cristo Redentor) - famous statue 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, accepted great participation 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 had to have the shape the 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 railway transported 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 Conference of the Episcopate held in Fatima on April 20, 1940, as a request to God to save Portugal from involvement in the Second world war. 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" - 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 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.
Creation idea underwater sculpture The Savior was first thought of by Italian diver Duilio Marchante during an 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), constructive part The project was carried out by Dr. Jakub Marcinowski and Associate Professor Nikolay Klapech 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. Official opening and the consecration took place on November 21, 2010.
Overall Height 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. Maximum Width 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 statue of Christ the Redeemer 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 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 arm span is 18.45 m. spiral staircase, 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 required for the construction of new buildings, small mountain and continues to decrease. 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 eastern regions, where the city of Manado is located, is dominated by the Christian population.
The statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) is one of the New Wonders of the World and the number 1 attraction, business card city of Rio de Janeiro. Despite the huge popularity this place not so easy to find detailed instructions how best to plan your trip to Mount Corcovado to the famous statue.
Should I visit the statue of Christ in Rio?
Before looking for a way to get to the statue, first of all, you need to answer the question of the advisability of the trip. Most tourists agree that it is impossible to visit Rio and not visit the statue, however, there are nuances. Good news is that even if you did not plan to climb Mount Corcovado, you are unlikely to be able to visit Rio and not see the statue of Christ the Redeemer. A monumental building 38 meters high, located on one of the most high peaks, Mount Corcovado (710 meters) in such a way that it can be seen from many points in the south, central and northern parts cities.
One of the most beautiful views opens in the Botafogu area, which is located on the coast of Guanabara Bay, this is where the front of the statue is turned.
The dark time of the day is not a hindrance either - with the onset of darkness, the statue is illuminated and it seems that it is floating in the night sky.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer Botafogo district
How much does this tour cost?
The price of visiting the statue may vary depending on the method you choose, but the minimum cost for entering the territory of the statue remains unchanged - as of January 2018, it was 25 reais (~450 rubles) per person.
Train is the most popular way
The train is one of the easiest and most popular ways to get to the Statue of Christ the Redeemer. The main difficulty of this method is to get to the station. You can get to the station by taking a direct bus from Largo do Machado metro station.
Train tickets can be purchased at the box office or on the website http://ticket.corcovado.com.br/ (62 / 75 reais for an adult ticket depending on the season)
Train to Corcovada (Statue of Christ the Redeemer)
Tour is the most convenient way
There are two ways to get to Mount Corcovado with a guided tour. The first is an alternative to the train. Right next to the train you can find minibuses that take tourists back and forth. The second is to book transport with travel agents. In this case, a similar bus will pick you up from your hotel or at the designated collection point.
A similar excursion can also be purchased online at https://tickets.paineirascorcovado.com.br/ (61 / 74 reais per adult ticket depending on the season)
Walking is the most difficult but economical way
This method will appeal not only to those who like to save money, but also to those who like long, hiking. Another advantage of this method is that in addition to Mount Corcovado and the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, you will also visit the famous Parque Lage and National Park Tijuca (on whose territory the statue is located).
Parque Lage Rio de Janeiro
In case you chose this way, the first thing to do is to get to the Parque Lage, the easiest way to do this is to use an uber. In the park itself, you have to find an exit to the path leading up the mountain (look for signs Corcovado / Trilha Corcovado). The route starts from opposite side from the entrance to the park. Before climbing, you need to leave your contact details at the checkpoint and get a map (free of charge).
The ascent itself can be more difficult than it seems at first glance. The whole journey, even for a trained person, takes about 3 hours. There are quite a few people on the trail in the morning, so if you plan to come to the opening itself, most likely you will not have fellow travelers. Another danger is bandits, as evidenced by the signs “High risk of robbery” - the proximity of some favelas affects. Therefore, it is not recommended to take especially valuable things with you. However, according to the news Lately this route is considered quite safe.
You can read more about hiking up Mount Corcovado here (although in Portuguese)
By helicopter - the most unforgettable way
The most chic and exciting way is to look at the Statue of Christ “from above” by booking a helicopter ride. In Rio de Janeiro, there are several companies providing various routes (including a flight from another attraction - the Urca Mountains). The cost of such excursions usually starts in the region of 200-300 reais per person for a few minutes of flight. Practically always the Statue of Christ the Redeemer is one of the main points of the program, but nevertheless, it is better to check in advance and check if Cristo Redentor (the name of the statue in Portuguese) is included in the program
What should be considered before visiting the statue?
One of the main conditions for a good trip to the attraction is good weather. In Rio de Janeiro (especially in summer time) quite often there is foggy weather, which can spoil the whole impression by obscuring the entire view of the city with a dense veil (which is no less impressive than the statue itself). Therefore, when going to the statue, you should pay close attention to cloudiness, and when booking a trip, check the weather forecast in advance.
When is the best time to go to the Christ Statue?
Another important condition besides weather is time. IN high season, on weekends, on the site in front of the statue there are not just a lot of people, but VERY many. If you want to do good photo and to avoid the need to literally squeeze through the crowd, it is worth arriving at the very opening at 7:30 - 8:00.
However, it is worth considering that on your own, you may have to wait in line already at the entrance, so in order to be guaranteed to get to the attraction in best time, it is worth booking tickets that indicate the entrance time.
An alternative to an early trip can be a late trip. It is unlikely that you will be able to take a good photo with the statue in the dark (although with the onset of dusk the statue begins to be highlighted), but in the evening a beautiful view of Rio de Janeiro at night opens up from Mount Corcovado.
The most famous statue of Jesus on the planet is the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. But the one who thinks that she is the largest in the world is deeply mistaken. The statue on Mount Corcovado, overlooking Rio, is only the fourth largest statue of Christ on Earth. In our review, the most tall statues established in honor of Jesus in different corners planets.
1. Cristo Rey - Mexico, 20.5 meters
This statue of Christ is located in the geographical center of Mexico - on the 2700-meter mountain Cerro del Cubilete.
The statue was completed in 1944 and its style is attributed to the Art Deco movement. Now Cristo-Rei is considered one of the most significant religious monuments in the country.
2. Statue of Christ the Savior - Maratea (Italy), 21.23 meters
The statue, also known as the Cristo Redentore di Maratea, was made from white and blue-gray marble quarried near the city of Carrara.
Unlike some of the other statues built with donations from the public, the Cristo Redentore was erected at the expense of one person - Stefano Rivetti, an entrepreneur from Piedmont.
3. Cristo de las Noas (Mexico), 21.8 meters
The statue was named after the hill on which it was erected - Cerro de las Noas. The construction of the 580-ton statue began in 1973 and was completed only seventeen years later.
At its foot is a restaurant, which is considered one of the most popular among the residents of the city of Torreon.
4. Christ of the Pacific (Peru), 22 meters
The Cristo del Pacifico was President Alberto Fujimori's farewell gift to the people of Peru. When he lost the 2011 presidential election, he decided to give the Peruvians one last gift by building a replica of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio in Lima.
However, he was criticized because the Peruvians felt that the people should have their own unique statue, and not a copy of someone else's.
5. Christ of the Sacred Heart (Mexico), 23 meters
10 kilometers from the Mexican city of Rosarito is located giant statue Cristo del Sagrado Corazon, made of steel and fiberglass.
Sculptor Gregorio Tijuana, claims to be the creator of the most unique statue of Christ, not because of its height, but because it is made in color (usually all other statues are white or gray).
The statue of Christ of the Sacred Heart is the pride of the Mexicans.
6. Cristo Rey de Los Alamos (Mexico), 23 meters
The resin and fiberglass statue is located in border town Tijuana.
Moreover, they built an almost 24-meter statue on the dome of the church of San Martin de Porres Tijuana.
7. El Cristo Roto (Mexico), 25 meters
An unusual one-legged and one-armed giant statue of Christ was built in the Mexican town of San José de Gracia.
El Cristo Roto (The Broken Christ) attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
8. Christ Rua de Houches (France), 25 meters
The monumental statue of Christ the King is located in Les Houches, Haute-Savoie in France.
Abbé Claude Delassie, pastor of Les Houches, who initiated the construction of this monument, wanted to erect a statue that would embody the idea of the universal kingdom of Christ on Earth. The first stone was laid in August 1933, and the statue was unveiled just a year later.
9. Christ of Mercy (Nicaragua), 26 meters
El Cristo de la Misericordia - huge statue in the city of San Juan del Sur, which is the largest statue of Christ in Central America.
This statue was the dream of a local businessman, Ervin Gonzalez, who made his fortune in tourism. As a result, he built it on his personal plot of land.
10. Christ the King (Colombia), 26 meters
On top of Los Cristales - one of the two mountains that tower over the Colombian city of Cali - in 1953, a 464-ton statue of Cristo Rey was erected. It was supposed to symbolize respect for peace and the safety of local residents.
Only the most energetic tourists get to the statue, because it is located at an altitude of 1440 m above sea level.
11. Cristo Rei Dili (East Timor), 27m
The statue of Christ the King was a gift from the Government of Indonesia to the people of East Timor. At the time of construction (1996), East Timor was a province of Indonesia before gaining independence in 2002. Since then, the statue of Cristo Rei has become one of the main tourist attractions of the new independent state.
Unlike most of the statues on this list, the Cristo Rei is made of copper, not stone.
12. Christ the King (Portugal), 28 meters
Plans for the construction of a Portuguese statue of Christ first appeared in 1940, but the statue was not finished until 1959.
The figure of Christ stands on the top of the rock near the city, arms outstretched towards the city, as if embracing it.
13. Cristo Recucitado (Mexico), 30 meters
This statue is the only one on the list that was installed in a cemetery (in the city of San Rafael). Sculptor David Gutiérrez Becerril made the Cristo Recucitado (Christ Resurrected) from pink stone in the early 1970s.
14. Christ blessing (Indonesia), 30 meters
In Manado Indonesian, this statue is called Christus Kase Berkat. It was built in 2010 from 25 tons of metal fiber and 35 tons of steel.
The statue is unusual in its location - Christ, as it were, leans forward to bless his flock.
15. Christos Otero (Spain), 30 meters
You can find Cristo del Otero on the outskirts Spanish city Palencia.
The statue was built in 1931 in a style reminiscent of the Art Deco movement.
Cristo del Otero is one of the most visited holy places by pilgrims.
16. Christ the Redeemer (Brazil), 30.1 meters
Perhaps the most famous statue Jesus in the World, Cristo Redentor is the fourth tallest statue of Jesus in the world.
It is also the oldest of the statues on this list - it was built between 1926 and 1931.
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 national park Tijuca.
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. Actively financed the project Catholic Church. 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 embraces 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, highway 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!
From the top of Mount Corcovado, an amazing view opens up - a long strip of Copacabana beach, peak sugar loaf, and it's over, the city, magical city Rio de Janeiro! From this point, perhaps, it is impossible to consider only the symbol of the metropolis and the symbol of Brazil - the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, because we are located directly at its foot
The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous and popular monuments in the world. Every year, millions of tourists rise to its foot, from where a stunning panorama of the city and the bay opens from picturesque mountain Sugarloaf (port. - Pan di Asukar), famous beaches Copacabana and Ipanema, the huge bowl of the Maracanã stadium.
An electrified railway (the first in Brazil) leads to the top, with a miniature train running along it. It was built by engineers Pereira Passos and Terceira Soares long before the statue of Christ - in 1882-1884, and subsequently played a big role in the construction of the monument: building materials were delivered upstairs through it
You can also get to the statue by car on the highway passing through state reserve Tizhuk. Tijuca is the largest woodland in an urban world
In 1921, the upcoming centenary of Brazil's national independence (1922) 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 generated 2.2 million flights. 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 (Heitor da Silva Costa)
Since for a number of reasons, including technological ones, it was then impossible to create such a huge sculpture in Brazil, all its details, including the frame, were made in France. 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. From destination a winding staircase of 220 steps, nicknamed "Karakol" ("Snail"), was arranged at the foot of the statue, and in the thickness of the marble plinth - a small chapel
On October 12, 1931, the grand opening and consecration of the monument, which became the symbol of Rio de Janeiro, took place.
In 1965, the statue was re-consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981, Pope John Paul II attended the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the monument.
Over the past 75 years, the statue has been repaired twice - in 1980 and 1990. In 1932 and 2000, the night illumination system was upgraded. In 2003, the rise leading to observation deck equipped with escalators.
In 2007, the statue was selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. We present a series interesting facts about this incredible building:
- At the statue Christ the Redeemer there are several doppelgangers. For example, the statue of Christo Rei (Christ the King), which is located in Lisbon (built in 1949-1959). Her height is about 28 meters, but instead of a hill, a pedestal about 80 meters high is used.
- In Vung Tau (Vietnam), a similar statue of Christ with with outstretched arms erected in 1972. It stands on a small hill (132 meters high) and has the following parameters: height - 32 meters, and arm span, a little less than 20 meters.
- On the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia (a Muslim country!) in 2007, they completed the construction of a 30-meter giant depicting Jesus Christ stretching his arms over the metropolis of Monado.
- There is even a stone Jesus Christ in East Timor, near the capital of the state - Dili (the height of the monument is 27 meters).
- Sculptures depicting Jesus were also erected in Malta, the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Honduras. It is planned to build similar monuments in Slovakia and Germany.
- The very statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is often identified with other grandiose architectural structures past years and present
