Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro

Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio

Voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World on 07-07-07, the Christ the Redeemer statue located atop Corcovado Mountain looks out over Rio de Janeiro.  This breath taking Art Deco icon was built as a worldwide symbol for peace and funded entirely by donations of local residents.

The entire monument stands 38 meters (124 feet) high with the statue alone at 30 meters (98 feet) making it one of the tallest statues in the world.  All this stands atop a deck situated on the mount summit at 700 meters (2,300 feet).

The span from fingertip to fingertip is 28 meters (92 feet) with a small chapel housed in the base.  In comparison the Christ of the Ozarks statue in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, stands at 67 feet tall.

Known in Portuguese as Cristo Redentor, the monument was designed by Polish-French sculptor Paul Landowski, and local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa oversaw the construction of the iconic statue of reinforced concrete with an outer mosaic layer of triangular soapstone tiles.

Corcovado Railway

The statue is accessed by a 20-minute ride on the Corcovado Railway, and then a climb up 222 steps.  Escalators and elevators are now available for those not wishing to make the arduous climb.

The idea of a religious monument on Corcovado Mountain dates back to 1859 when Vincentian Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss made the suggestion after witnessing the beauty of the mountain, but it was never acted upon.  The idea revived again in 1921 by the Catholic Circle of Rio when they began fundraising.  It was not until 1927, however, that construction began.  The monument was officially inaugurated in 1931.

The statue received a thorough cleaning in 1980 in preparation for a visit from Pope John Paul II. 

In 2006, to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the monument, a chapel at the base was consecated to Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Our Lady of the Apparition), the patron saint of Brazil.

Escalators up to the statue

Lightning struck the statue in 2008 damaging the fingers, eyebrows, and head.  All the stone used in the massive restoration in 2010 came from the same quarry as the original statue stone. 

As remarkable as the statue is, many feel the real experience is the view from the top of the city of Rio.  Enjoy this collection of 45 absolutely amazing photographs shot from every possible angle. 

This 2011 article celebrating the statue’s 80^th birthday shows several vintage photos and a chart comparing the statue to other taller statues around the world.

And for a heart-stopping experience, join this photographer as he climbs through the inside of the statue to the crown and takes a selfie “from the top!” (Be sure to watch the video at the end of the article.)  Not for the faint of heart!