Famous statue in Rio de Janeiro: history and description. The tallest statues of Jesus Christ in the world, which many have never heard of

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 miracles light, but most often they choose the time of the carnival celebration to visit this city. If you want to enjoy the beauty and spirituality of the monument, it is better to choose a quieter time, although in any case you won’t be able 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 have been difficult to implement the project, because during the construction of the statue it was necessary to transport heavy elements, building materials and equipment.

In 1921, Brazil was preparing to celebrate the centenary of independence, which resulted in the idea of erecting a statue of Christ the Redeemer on the top of the mountain. The new monument was supposed to become a key element of the capital, as well as attract tourists to the observation deck, from which the entire city was at a glance.

To raise money, the Cruzeiro magazine was involved, which organized a subscription for the construction of the monument. Based on the results of the fundraiser, over two million flights were generated. The church also did not stand aside: Don Sebastian Leme, the archbishop of the city, allocated a considerable sum for the construction of the statue of Jesus from donations from parishioners.

The total period of 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 should have stood on a pedestal in the form globe. A modified version of the sketch belongs to the hand of engineer Heitor da Silva Costo, who made changes to the shape of the pedestal. This is exactly how you can see the famous Christian monument today.

Due to the insufficient development of technology, most of the elements were manufactured 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 ceremony. Since then, it has become a recognized symbol of the city.

Description of the monument's design

A reinforced concrete structure was used as a frame for the statue of Christ the Redeemer, the monument itself is made of soapstone, and there are glass elements. The artistic feature is the pose of a giant. Christ stands with outstretched arms, identifying, on the one hand, universal forgiveness, and 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 considered one of the highest in the world, but at the same time it is impressive in its impressiveness due to its location on the top of the mountain. Its absolute height is 38 meters, eight of which are on the pedestal. The entire structure weighs about 630 tons.

Another feature of the statue is the night illumination, which greatly 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 a giant is descending from heaven in order to bless his children. The spectacle is truly impressive and deserves everyone’s attention, so even at night there are no fewer tourists in Rio de Janeiro.

History of the monument after its opening

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

Since the existence of Christ the Redeemer, serious renovation work has 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 make it easier to “conquer” the top of Corcovado.

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

April 16, 2010 became an unpleasant page in the history of the memorial, because on this day the first act of vandalism was committed against 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 in as soon as possible deleted.

Considering the place where it is famous monument, it's no surprise that he becomes an ideal target for lightning. According to statistics, the statue is hit at least four times every year. Some of the damage is so visible that reconstructive measures have to be taken. For these purposes, the local diocese keeps an impressive reserve of the rock from which the giant is made.

Tourists coming to brazilian city, can visit the Christ the Redeemer statue in two ways. Small trains run to the foot of the monument, so you can get acquainted with the road laid in the 19th century, and then see one of the new wonders of the world. There is also a highway leading here, which passes through the largest forest area located within the city. Photo from national park Tijuca will also be added to the collection of pictures about traveling around Brazil.

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer (port. Cristo Redentor) is the famous statue of Christ with outstretched arms on the 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 rightfully be considered one of the most majestic buildings of mankind. Its size and beauty, combined with the panorama opening from the observation deck at the foot of the statue, will take the breath away of anyone who happens to be there.

It stands on top of the Corcovado hill at an altitude of 704 meters above sea level. The height of the statue itself is 30 meters, not counting the seven-meter pedestal, and its weight is 1140 tons. The idea for this structure originated in 1922, when the centenary of Brazilian independence was celebrated. A well-known weekly magazine then announced a competition of projects for the best monument - a symbol of the nation. The winner, Hector da Silva Costa, put forward the idea of a sculptural image of Christ with outstretched arms and embracing the entire city.

This gesture expresses compassion and at the same time joyful pride. Da Silva's idea was received with enthusiasm by the public also because it crossed out old plan erection of a grandiose monument to Christopher Columbus on Mount Pan di Azucar. The church immediately got involved, organizing donations across the country to finance the project.

An interesting detail: due to technological imperfections, it was not possible to create such a statue in Brazil at that time. Therefore, it was manufactured in France, and then transported in parts to the site of future installation. First by water to Brazil, then by miniature railway to the top of Mount Corcovado. In total, construction cost the equivalent of 250 thousand US dollars at that time.

Before work began, architects, engineers and sculptors met in Paris to discuss all the technical problems of installing the statue on a hilltop, where it was exposed to all winds and other meteorological influences. Work on the design and creation of the statue took place in Paris. She was then taken to Rio de Janeiro and installed on Corcovado hill. On October 12, 1931, its first grand opening and consecration took place; by this day, the lighting installation was also installed.

In 1965, Pope Paul VI repeated the consecration ceremony, and the lighting installation was also updated for the occasion. Another great celebration took place here in the presence of Pope John Paul II on October 12, 1981, when the fiftieth anniversary of the statue itself was celebrated.

The statue of Christ the Savior is considered one of the modern wonders of the world. The height of the stone monument is 30 meters, not counting the seven-meter pedestal; the head of the statue weighs 35.6 tons; the hands weigh 9.1 tons each, and the arm span is 23 meters. Built in 1885, the tram line now leads almost to the top of the hill: the final stop is just forty meters below the statue. From there you need to climb 220 steps of a staircase to the pedestal on which the observation deck is located.

In 2003, an escalator was opened that takes you to the foot of the famous statue. From here you can clearly see the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema stretching on your right hand, and on your left the giant bowl of the Maracana, the world's largest stadium, and international Airport. From the sea side rises the unique silhouette of Mount Pan di Azucar. The statue of Christ the Redeemer is a national treasure and a national Brazilian shrine.

The statue of Christ the Savior is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and weighs 635 tons. 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 get to it by the highway, and then by steps and escalators.

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 climbed onto the scaffolding and painted pictures and inscriptions on the face of Christ.

Every year about 1.8 million tourists will climb 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.

Christ spread his arms over the huge city, as if blessing the millions of people living in it. Far below are houses, streets with colorful spots of cars, a long yellow strip stretching along the bay, and on the other side, bordered by green palm trees, is the famous multi-kilometer Copacabana beach. On the other hand of Christ you can see the no less famous bowl of the Maracana stadium, which was glorified by the Brazilian football wizards, five-time world champions, the international airport, and beyond the surface of the bay, on the other side, silhouettes of distant mountains are visible in the haze of fog.

Here, standing at the feet of Christ, you understand how amazing a nice place chosen by the Portuguese conquistadors, who founded a fort on the shores of Guanabara Bay in the 16th century, which very quickly became the city of Rio de Janeiro and the capital of the Viceroyalty of Brazil, one of the colonies of Portugal.

Only in 1822 did Brazil become an independent state, called first the Brazilian Empire, and since 1889 the Republic of Brazil. Rio de Janeiro continued to be the capital of the state until 1960, when it gave up this honor to the new city of Brasilia, but remained one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. It’s not for nothing that the Brazilians themselves say about him this way: “God created the world in six days, and on the seventh he created Rio de Janeiro.”

To be fair, it must be said that there are other similar majestic statues of Christ on Earth. In Italy, a huge stone Savior rises above the city of Maratea. IN Dominican Republic, on the island of Haiti - above the city of Puerto Plata. But in Rio de Janeiro he is the most majestic and stands tallest...

1. Christ the Redeemer Statue (Rio de Janeiro)

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 the Christ the Redeemer monument. The magazine O Cruzeiro announced a fundraiser by subscription for the construction of the monument. The campaign raised R$2.2 million. The church also joined in the fundraising: the then Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Don Sebastian Leme, took a large part in the creation of the monument. Construction of the statue lasted about nine years - from 1922 to 1931.

The original sketch of the monument was developed by artist Carlos Oswald. It was he who suggested depicting Christ with his arms outstretched in a blessing gesture, 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 shaped like a globe. The final design of the monument was developed by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa.

In 1924, French sculptor Paul Landowski completed modeling the head (3.75 meters high) and hands of the statue. In disassembled form, all parts of the monument were delivered to Brazil and transported by rail to the top of Mount Corcovado.

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

The statue of Christ the Savior is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and weighs 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. The span of Christ's arms 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 get to it by the highway, and then by steps and escalators.

Twice, in 1980 and 1990, major repairs were carried out on the statue. Also, preventative work was carried out several times. In 2008, the statue was struck by lightning and damaged slightly. Work to restore the outer layer on the fingers and head of the statue, as well as to install 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 climbed onto the scaffolding and painted pictures and inscriptions on the face of Christ.

2. Cristo Rey (Almada, Portugal)

Christ the King (port. Cristo Rei) - 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 is 75 meters high, the statue of Christ itself is 28 meters high.

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

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

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

The idea of creating an underwater sculpture of the Savior first came to the mind of the Italian diver Duilio Marcante during underwater meditation. Apart from the purely religious aspects, Mercante also wanted to commemorate another diver, Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian scuba diver, who died at this site in 1947.

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

The statue is a very popular object among divers. This is also facilitated by the exceptional clarity of the water in the Bay of San Fruttuoso. In 2003, the statue, which had been thoroughly overgrown with algae for 50 years under water and had 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 location.

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

The underwater 13-ton concrete sculpture of Christ (Malt. Kristu L-Bahhar) is located on the seabed near the St. Paul Islands of the Maltese archipelago next to Malta’s Marine Park.

The famous Maltese underwater statue of Jesus Christ was made by the famous Maltese sculptor Alfred Camilleri Cauchi. The work to design and build the underwater statue of Jesus Christ was valued at 1,000 Maltese liras 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 honor of the celebration of the visit of Malta in 1990 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 place - about 10 meters. This is due to the fact that the statue was originally located next to active fish farms, and divers began to complain about deteriorating water quality and poor visibility in the depths of the sea in this place. In May 2000, the underwater statue of Jesus Christ, which had been lying at the bottom of the sea for 10 years, was pulled out by the Maltese with a floating crane, closer to the old Malta-Gozo ferry, which was sunk a year earlier.

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

The Statue of Christ the King is the world's largest statue of Jesus Christ, located on the southeastern outskirts of the city of Swiebodzin, in the Lubusz Voivodeship of Poland.

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

The sculpture was designed by Mirosław Kazimierz Patecki, realized by Tomasz Korano (Gdynia). The foundation was designed by Marian Wybranec (Świebodzin), the structural part of the project was carried out by Dr. Jakub Marcinowski and Associate Professor Nikolaj Klapecz from the University of Zielona Góra. The monument was built with private donations; the builders were recruited from the local church parish.

Construction took about two years. The installation and welding work was carried out by the local company Tehspaw from Skompe Lubusz Voivodeship. In December 2009, construction was suspended because a high-voltage power line runs near the monument. In April 2010, permission was received and construction resumed. On November 6, 2010, the installation of the head and crown of the monument was completed. The official opening and consecration took place on November 21, 2010.

The total height of the monument is about 52 m, which is higher than the Cristo de la Concordia monument in Cochabamba (40.44 m with pedestal) and the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro (39.6 m with pedestal). The height of the statue itself with the crown is 36 m, and 16 m is the height of the stone-earth hill. The height of the other two statues without pedestals is 34.2 m and 30 m. Thus, as of 2010, this statue of Christ is the tallest in the world. The maximum width of the statue (distance between 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 by crane, then the shoulder girdle and the head with the crown.

The statue's gilded crown measures 3.5 meters in diameter and about 3 meters in height. 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 three times.

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. The statue is therefore 2.44 meters taller than the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, making it the largest statue in the Southern Hemisphere.

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 2840 meters above sea level. 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. K observation deck There are 1,399 steps leading up 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 unveiling of the monument marked a celebration of the peaceful resolution of the conflict over a border dispute between 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 Arentina and Chile over border disputes, the Bishop of the Cuyo region, Marcelino del Carmen Benavente, publicly promised to build a statue of Christ the Redeemer, which would remind of his covenant to maintain peace. The 7-meter-tall statue was made by sculptor Mateo Alonso and was for some time 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 César de Costa. She believed that it would be more appropriate to install the statue in the Andes, on the border separating the two countries, in case they signed a peace agreement. Thus the statue would become a symbol of the union of the two nations. Angela was worried about the possibility of conflict, including because her brother, who was a general, was in the mountains, where he was preparing for a seemingly inevitable war. With her help (she was familiar 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 to obtain funds to collect signatures, and together with Bishop Benavente, she asked that the statue be transported to the province of Mendoza to be installed 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 1,200 km to the Argentine village of Las Cuevas, and then, with the help of mules, lifted to the top of a mountain 3,854 meters above sea level. On February 15, 1904, under the direction of engineer Conti, the construction of the granite pedestal was completed (project Molina Civita). About a hundred workers took part in the construction. Sculptor Mateo Alonso supervised the assembly of the statue's parts. The figure of Christ was installed so that it looked along the border. Christ stands on the earth's hemisphere, his left hand holds a cross, and with his right he seems to be giving a blessing. The height of the statue reaches almost seven meters. The granite pedestal weighs four tons and 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. The armies of two countries, which until recently were planning to fight against each other, also arrived. Together they fired a ceremonial 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. Mendoza's government provided funds to repair the monument and two nearby buildings that were sometimes used as weather stations.

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

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 his arms outstretched for an embrace. This statue was erected in 1927, long before its analogues - 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 Jesus Christ statue 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. Inside it is installed spiral staircase, along which you can climb to the top of the statue. From this place it opens beautiful view on the outskirts 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 needed to construct new buildings, Malaya Gora and now continues to decrease. The southern slope of the mountain is significantly excavated today. The extraction of material takes place 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 in height. It towers over the city of Manado on the island of Sulawesi. Making the statue cost one of Indonesia's richest people, Ciputra, $540,000 and took almost three years. The statue was unveiled in 2007. Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, but the eastern regions, where the city of Manado is located, have a predominantly Christian population.

Rio de Janeiro, day two.
Today, the impression of Rio has noticeably improved - apparently, Rio belongs to that rare type of city that has an absolutely faded and nondescript center and all the beauties and attractions in them are scattered on the outskirts - in this Rio is partly 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 - it was a full house, everything was sold out. I really didn’t want to climb the mountain on foot, and the railway itself is an attraction: the elevation difference is 690 meters, in one place it passes over a bridge 170 meters long; so, while waiting for the train, I had to wander around the Laranjeiras area, 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 sitting for an hour in a cafe under a palm tree, leisurely sipping coffee and finally realizing that you are not just anywhere, but in Rio de Janeiro - this is worth a lot.

Laranjeiras area(Laranjeiras) is a fairly prosperous area of Rio. 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) are located here. Surroundings of Cosme Velho station:

Mount Corcovado: in 1501, after discovering Guanabara Bay, Amerigo Vespucci named the hill overlooking the coast Pinaculo Da Tentação (“Peak of Temptation”) after the example of the biblical mountain near the city of Jericho, where Jesus spent forty days in fasting and was tempted by the devil. The modern name Corcovado (“hillock”, “hump”) appeared already in the 17th century; one version says that the name supposedly 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 the top of the mountain arose in 1859, when the Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss proposed the project to Princess Regent Isabel, daughter of the Emperor of Brazil Don Pedro II - but then followed the proclamation of the republic and other turbulent historical events, so all interested people no longer cared about the monument. The idea was returned to again on the eve of the centenary of Brazilian 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 local residents Even before the completion of construction, numerous cartoons began to depict a soccer ball instead of a globe, and the idea with a cross and a ball had to be abandoned. Grand opening Christ the Redeemer statues(Cristo Redentor) took place on October 12, 1931; in 1937, the statue was officially recognized as a monument under state protection; in 2006, the Catholic Church declared it a place of pilgrimage, and a year later, in a vote by SMS, telephone and Internet, it was recognized as one of the “seven wonders of the world of the New Age.”

The statue is really nice and the views from the mountain are amazing - all wonderful, but being the world famous "emblem" of Rio, the statue attracts crazy crowds of tourists. And many of them strive to stand exactly in front of the statue, spread their arms out to the sides and stand like that while their friends photograph them in the “statue pose” against the background of the original - they 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 exactly how to photograph him.

At the examination room, such an episode happened - someone once again screamed heart-rendingly in my ear - and out of surprise, I cursed loudly out loud in Russian. Suddenly I hear: “Are you from Russia? Hello!" It turned out that the seller of the souvenir stall, a long-time immigrant from Ukraine, heard the Russian obscenity and was so happy about it that we began a friendly conversation, during which he even gave me a piece of agate from his assortment for luck. So now I have an agate from Mount Corcovado. So, it took me about five hours to visit the statue of Christ - I recommend leaving plenty of time and going there as early as possible so as not to wait for the train, like I did. By the way, at 11 am tickets were sold only for the train departing at 13:30, and at 13:00 - only for 16:00; so, having arrived at the station for lunch, 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 Urca district(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 subject of Rio. Lower station cable car located on Pasteur Avenue (Avenida Pasteur, 520), from where the carriages first go to the intermediate station on the Morro da Urca hill (217 m), and from there to the top of Sugar Loaf (395 m).

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

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

How to get to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain: The lower station of the cable car is located on Avenida Pasteur, 520. The price of a ticket for both cable cars (to the Morro da Urca station and then to Sugarloaf) is 62 reais round trip. Theoretically, you can skip the first cable car and walk to the transfer station, enjoying the views and merging with nature - but this will not affect the ticket price, and it’s a high climb there.

One of the most famous statues in the world and certainly the most recognizable in Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, she looks at the large city, located under it. The Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height there is a beautiful view of the city of ten million with its bays, beaches, and the Maracana stadium.

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

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

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

The technologies of Brazil at that time did not allow most of the work to implement such a project, so all the parts of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil were created in France, from where they were safely delivered to Brazil and transported to the installation site via the constructed railway. From the end of the railway to the statue itself, a path of 220 steps was built, called “Karakol”. Interestingly, there is a chapel inside the basement of the monument.

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

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Statue of Christ the Redeemer: history and where it is located

Where is the statue of Christ the Redeemer located?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the version of the statue that now towers over Rio de Janeiro, we should be grateful to the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. It was he who suggested depicting Christ with his arms outstretched to the sides. The meaning of this pose lies in the phrase “All things are in the hands of God.”

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

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

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

The construction of the statue lasted about 4 years and, finally, in 1931, the solemn opening ceremony of the statue of Christ the Redeemer took place. The size and complexity of the monument’s execution amazed everyone present at the ceremony. Tears appeared in the eyes of many believers. And many years later, people continue to be amazed by this truly gigantic structure, which carries a hidden meaning.

The majesty of the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Every year, thousands of tourists and pilgrims travel a long distance to admire the majesty of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. At the same time, the huge and meek figure of Christ spreads his arms over Rio de Janeiro, and perhaps the whole world, as if hugging and protecting it. This monument was recognized as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. Its height is 38 meters, its arm span is 30 meters, and the monument weighs 1145 tons.

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

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