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Christ the Redeemer
Background information
Type Statue
Level 700m
Location Corcovado Peak, Rio de Janeiro
Inhabitants


Christ the Redeemer (Portuguese: Cristo Redentor) is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the 5th largest statue in the world. The reinforced concrete-built and soapstone-tiled statue stands at 30 meters (98.42 feet) high (not including its 8 metre pedestal and stretches 28 meters (91.86 feet) wide from one hand to the other.[1] The statute weighs 635 metric tons and was built between the years 1922 and 1931. The statue is located on the peak of the 700 metre tall Mount Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue was created by French sculptor Paul Landowski and built by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, in collaboration with the French engineer Albert Caquot. The monument is currently listed as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and as a symbol of Brazilian Christianity, the statue has become an icon for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.[2]

History[]

The idea of erecting a large statue atop Mount Corcovado was first suggested in the mid-1850s when Vincentian priest Pedro Maria Boss requested financing from Princess Isabel to build a large religious monument. Princess Isabel did not think much of the idea and it was dismissed in 1889 when Brazil became a republic with laws mandating the separation of church and state. The second proposal for a landmark statue on the mountain was made in 1920 by the Catholic Circle of Rio. The group organized an event called Semana do Monumento ("Monument Week") to attract donations and collect signatures to support the building of the statue. The donations came mostly from Brazilian Catholics. The designs considered for the "Statue of the Christ" included a representation of the Christian cross, a statue of Jesus Christ with a globe in his hands, and a pedestal symbolizing the world. The statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms, as a symbol of peace, was chosen.

Local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed the statue; it was sculpted by Polish-French sculptor Paul Landowski. A group of engineers and technicians studied Landowski's submissions and the decision was made to build the structure out of reinforced concrete (designed by Albert Caquot) instead of steel, more suitable for the cross-shaped statue. The outer layers are soapstone, chosen for its enduring qualities and ease of use. Construction took nine years, from 1922 to 1931 and cost the equivalent of US$250,000 ($3,200,000 in 2013). The monument was opened on October 12, 1931. The statue was meant to be lit by a battery of floodlights triggered remotely by shortwave radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi, stationed 5,700 miles (9,200 km) away in Rome, but poor weather affected the signal and it had to be lit by workers in Rio.

In October 2006, on the statue's 75th anniversary, Archbishop of Rio Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid consecrated a chapel (named after the patron saint of Brazil—Nossa Senhora Aparecida, or "Our Lady of the Apparition") under the statue. This allows Catholics to hold baptisms and weddings there.

The New 7 Wonders of the World[]

Christ the Redeemer, along with other 6 locations (Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal of India, Roman Colosseum of Italy, Machu Picchu of Peru, Petra Temple of Jordan and Pyramid at Chichén Itzá of Mexico), have been officially announced as the New 7 Wonders of the World on July 7th, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal.[3] These locations had been elected by more than 100 million votes from people all around the globe.

Tourist Attraction[]

Rio-(movie)-wallpaper-Christ-the-Redeemer-1

Though majestic, Christ the Redeemer is not the main attraction of the tourists. It's actually the breathtaking panoramic view of Southern Rio de Janeiro. Tourists have total 360° angle view - covering Central, South and North Region of tie city. Almost every tourist attraction around the city is visible from the top. The Sugarloaf Mountain, the Guanabara Bay, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean are the points that stand out from the landscape.[4]

Rio-panorama-from-christ-redeemer

Restoration[]

In 1990, further restoration work was conducted through an agreement among several organizations, including the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro, media company Rede Globo, oil company Shell do Brasil, environmental regulator IBAMA, National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage, and the city government of Rio de Janeiro.

More work on the statue and its environs was conducted in 2003 and early 2010. In 2003, a set of escalators, walkways, and elevators were installed to facilitate access to the platform surrounding the statue. The four-month restoration in 2010, focused on the statue itself. The statue's internal structure was renovated and its soapstone mosaic covering was restored by removing a crust of fungi and other microorganisms and repairing small cracks. The lightning rods located in the statue’s head and arms were also repaired, and new lighting fixtures were installed at the foot of the statue.

The restoration involved one hundred people and used more than 60,000 pieces of stone taken from the same quarry as the original statue. During the unveiling of the restored statue, it was illuminated with green-and-yellow lighting in support of the Brazil national football team playing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Maintenance work needs to be conducted periodically due to the strong winds and erosion to which the statue is exposed, as well as lightning strikes. The original pale stone is no longer available in sufficient quantities, and replacement stones are increasingly darker in hue.

Getting There[5][]

By Tram Car[]

Rioextreme-Christ-the-Redeemer-Hiking-Route

Rioextreme's Christ the Redeemer Hiking Route

Christ-the-Redeemer-Tram-Car

Christ the Redeemer Tram Car

The most popular and accessible way to get there is the 20-minute tram ride that winds through the Tijuca forest and up to the summit. To reach the tram station, many use the Integraçao Metro ticket, and take the metro bus from Largo do Macho Metro Station (between the Flamengo and Catete stops).

By Car or Taxi[]

Visitors short on time might consider going by car, or taking a taxi and arranging for the taxi driver to wait while they tour the monument.

By Foot[]

For active tourists wanting to experience the Tijuca forest and climb up the Corcovado on their own two feet, there are several hiking trails up to the monument. The hike provides beautiful scenery of the Tijuca National Forest, stops at several waterfalls, and the potential spotting of some Capuchin monkeys.

Role In Movies[]

Rio[]

The statue first appears in the movie while Linda and Tulio are dining, faintly visible in the background. The statue is later seen when Jewel and Blu are on the Vista Chinesa, faintly visible in the background. It is first clearly seen when Blu attempts to fly with Jewel and fails. After falling, the two land on a hang glider, which then circles the statue. Blu and Jewel are shown admiring the view, but soon, the two birds fall off the hang glider and land in the Copacabana beach. It also appears after Blu and Jewel have an argument and go their separate ways, which causes Jewel to fly off in anger and sadness. Jewel appears to be flying towards the statue, with Nico and Pedro pursuing her.

Rio 2[]

The statue is also seen during the trailers and New Year's Eve clip of Rio 2. In the trailers and the movie's beginning, Blu and Jewel are seen shooting fireworks near the foot of the statue, and Jewel and their kids fly to the arms of the statue to watch the fireworks. During the New Year´s Eve clip, the birds of Rio, Nico, Pedro, Rafael, Eva, Blu, and Jewel are all seen dancing and singing at the foot of the statue. Luiz was also seen at the foot of the statue. While Bia, Carla, and Tiago were setting up fireworks at a different part of the statue, from Permission from Tiny, however Blu and Jewel weren't happy about the Bia, Carla, or Tiago's plans.

Cultural Popularity[]

Trivia[]

  • Christ The Redeemer is one of the oldest remaining structures in Rio de Janeiro, as it was built in the 1930's.

Gallery[]

Main article: Christ the Redeemer/Gallery

References[]

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