Statue in Rio de Janeiro title. Statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro: a modern wonder of the world

Known throughout the world Jesus Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil located at the very top of Mount Corcovado. It is a symbol of the city and the whole. The height of Jesus reaches 46 meters (including a pedestal 8 meters high), the scope of Christ’s embrace is 28 meters, the weight is 1143 tons, and the materials for construction and all components of the future monument were made in France.

The Brazilian landmark is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

The grand opening of the statue of Jesus Christ took place in 1931; its construction took 9 years and more than $250,000 (by the standards of those times) was spent. In 1922, just in time for the centenary of Brazilian independence, the magazine O Cruzeiro announced a competition for the best design of a statue - a symbol of the nation. Funds for the construction were raised by the then popular weekly O Cruzeiro from subscriptions, as well as with the help of the church, which organized charity fundraisers throughout the country. Later this period was called "Monument Week". As a result, the winner of the competition was the engineer Hector da Silva, and the author of the initial sketch of Jesus the Redeemer was the artist Carlos Oswald, who proposed to erect a figure of Jesus with outstretched arms, embracing the city and the whole world. This blessing gesture symbolizes compassion and carries the meaning of the phrase “All things are in the hands of the Lord.”

It is also worth noting that initially the pedestal for Jesus was supposed to be made in the form globe, but later the project was changed to the version that we see today. By the way, a small chapel has been located inside this pedestal for many years.

Statue of Jesus Christ in Brazil is one of the largest and most majestic art deco statues in the world. Every year, more than two million believers and ordinary tourists from all over the world make a pilgrimage, climbing 220 steps called “Caracol” on the way to the foot of the statue, where the incredible landscape of the city and bay opens from the observation decks. There are several ways to climb the mountain: by bus, by taxi or your own car, or by mini-train, which takes tourists to the top via an electrified railway. This railway was built long before the appearance of the statue and was subsequently extremely useful for engineers and builders. It greatly simplified the lifting process. building materials and parts of the future statue, which arrived from France, to the top of the mountain. The path to the top is laid along the Tijuca Nature Reserve, which adorns the path to the top from its very foot.

In 2000, the authorities of Rio de Janeiro carried out a small restoration of the statue of Jesus Christ, during which the fluorescent lighting was improved, creating a stunning appearance of the statue at night.

Since the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro is the most high point city, then every year during a thunderstorm several lightning strikes. For example, in January 2014, the statue was struck by lightning and injured its thumb. right hand Jesus, in December of the same year was already damaged forefinger on the same hand and head. Because of this, the authorities decided to increase the number of lightning rods. This is exactly the role played by the crown on the head of the statue; in addition to it, lightning rods were added on the arms. During the repairs, the statue was not covered, and twenty climbers carried out repair work right in front of tourists. In 2010, the statue was subject to vandalism; unknown people painted it with black spray paint, scrawling blasphemous inscriptions such as “The cat is out of the house - the mice are dancing,” but all of them were promptly removed.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer. The famous statue placed on Corcovado in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is considered a symbol of the city and the whole country. The monument was built from reinforced concrete material and soap stone. The height of the statue is 38 meters, weight is 1145 tons, and the arm span is thirty meters.

Every year more than one and a half million visiting tourists come to the foot of this masterpiece. A railway was built to the top of the pedestal. It is considered the very first in Brazil and was erected long before the statue. Her role was very big. Materials for the construction of the top of the monument were transported along it. Tourists reach the statue via the highway that passes through the reserve.

To build Christ the Redeemer, architects and sculptors spent almost nine years (1922-1931). The sketch of the monument was designed by artist Carlos Oswald. His proposal to make Christ with outstretched arms resulted in the figure appearing from a distance to be an incredibly large cross. All parts of the sculpture were made in France and transported to Brazil. A staircase with 220 steps leads to the foot of the statue. The small chapel was located in the thickness of the marble base.

The monument was solemnly opened and consecrated on October 12, 1931. The statue was re-consecrated in 1965. Over the course of 75 years, the statue was repaired twice. In 2000, the night lighting system was modernized. You can climb to the observation deck using escalators, which were installed in 2003. Since 2007, Christ the Redeemer has the status of a wonder of the world.

Unfortunately, the statue became a victim of vandalism throughout its history in 2010. There were inscriptions written on it in black, which were quickly erased.

While in Rio de Janeiro, you should also definitely visit one of the most famous areas of the city - Copacabana. There are a huge number of attractions here, and festivals and concerts take place almost all year round.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer on the map of Rio de Janeiro

Statue of Christ the Redeemer. The famous statue placed on Corcovado in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is considered a symbol of the city and the whole country. The monument was built from reinforced concrete material and soap stone. The height of the statue is 38 meters, weight is 1145 tons, and the arm span is thirty meters.

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 “New Seven Wonders of the World”. Is located high altitude above former capital on Mount Corcovado, which offers panoramic views. 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 back in 1884 with the creation of the Corcovado Railway. It was the first to run on electricity in Brazil. It was 3824 meters long and led from the foot of the mountain to the top. At that time it was one of the most progressive engineering designs.

In 1991, the 100th anniversary of the country's independence was approaching. The government decided to create a main symbol that would not only decorate the area, but also attract tourists. The design of the monument to Jesus Christ was proposed by Carlos Oswald. He came up with the idea of ​​an image with outstretched arms so that the cross could be read from afar.

Initially, the figure was supposed to stand on a pedestal in the shape of a globe, but it was decided to abandon the idea due to the impossibility of a modern design.

It was accepted by the entire population to collect money. An advertisement about the required amount was left in the Cruzeiro magazine. Church leadership also got involved. We managed to score 3.5 million dollars. Construction took place from 1922 to 1931. But the final project was changed. The author was 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 part came here separately by ship and then ascended by rail. Then she was carried 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 is supported by iron beams inside. The outside is lined with soapstone or soapstone. This material was found in the surrounding area. The cobblestones were broken into thousands of small pieces, and then they were pasted over the outside of the figure. The result was a beautiful low tide during sunny days.

The size of the object is amazing, although it is not a world record holder. The height is 38 meters, of which 8 are on a rectangular pedestal. The location on a mountain 800 meters above sea level adds to the height. The weight of the overall structure is 1145 tons, and the weight of the figures separately is 635 tons. The arm span 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 these days. Modern lighting with multi-colored lights was installed. In the darkness, Jesus appears to float above the earth. Co observation deck the pedestal offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding area: the ocean, Ipanema beach, mountain range and stadium. In the basement they opened a chapel in honor of Saint Senora Aparecida and a souvenir shop.

It is worth paying attention to the nature around. Corcovado is surrounded by Tijuca National Park right in the center of Rio de Janeiro. Hundreds of species of trees, bushes, flowers and other plants grow on an area of ​​3,200 hectares. There are also dozens of representatives of the animal world. They are all unique and can only be found in the Atlantic Forest. Within its boundaries you can also see: caves, a 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 - Orthodox services were held for the first time, and in 2016 prayer hymns were held with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill. Prayers were read in Portuguese and Church Slavonic.

1980 and 1990 - renovations were carried out. In 2000, night lighting was installed, and in 2003, an escalator was added to the stairs, creating greater accessibility. An unpleasant incident occurred in 2010, when vandals painted the figure with black paint. Fortunately, it was easily washed off in a short time.

Interesting facts about the Christ the Redeemer statue

• Every year the landmark is struck by lightning. On average this happens 4 times. Two of these cases resulted in chipped fingertips.
• In 2007, the place was officially included in the list of “New Seven Wonders of the World” along with the Wall of China, Machu Picchu and the Colosseum.
• The attraction was shown in more than 15 films and TV series, for example: “Twilight”, “Fast and Furious 5”, “1+1”, “2012”, “Rio, I Love You” and others.
• There is a religious belief that by climbing 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 also often held.

Ticket prices

You can purchase tickets online on the official portal or at one of the offices also listed on the website. The price depends on the age of the visitor and the tourist season:

• adult ticket on regular days - 65 reais;
• adult on holidays and weekends - 79 reais;
• from 5 to 11 years - 51 reals;
• up to 4 years old - free.

The price includes travel by bus or train through the jungle and ascent to the panoramic area. This trip itself already surprises with its beauty and extreme nature. Vehicles move at an almost vertical angle through trees and beautiful views. To travel, you must arrive at a certain time, which is indicated after 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 Christ the Redeemer statue

To go to the location you need to find the Trem do Corcovado station. You can get there by public transport:

• bus stop Rua Cosme Velho próximo ao 412 on routes 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 mentioned 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 take the stairs or escalator.

Taxis in the city are most often caught on the streets, but there are three apps for ordering: EasyTaxi, 99TAXIS or Uber.

The visiting card of Rio, and, perhaps, of the whole of Brazil, is located on the Corcovado peak 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 probably recognized him. This is the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer.

In any guide to Brazil it will be on the first 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)
• The distance from the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, is approximately 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 Cristo Redentor) is visible from anywhere in Rio, because it is erected at an altitude of 710 meters above the ocean. From the site near the statue there are simply incredible views of the surrounding area. All of Rio in the palm of your hand. The famous beaches of 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.

Dizzying landscapes and stunning 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 arms apart 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 including the pedestal)

Today, the statue of Christ the Redeemer is one of the most famous and attractive landmarks in the world. Every year up to 2 million tourists arrive here, so it is almost impossible to find the monument deserted. Paved to the top of Corcovado railway track, on 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 a chaplain in a small church in what is now the Botafogo district. The windows of the church overlooked Mount Corcovado. One day, standing at the window, he saw a breathtaking landscape, which inspired him with the idea of ​​​​creating a religious monument. Pierre-Marie shared his thoughts with his colleagues, and everyone supported him. The idea was good, but due to lack of funding, it turned out to be unfeasible. The project was frozen.

In 1882 they decided to build 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 during the construction of the monument.

In 1921, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of Brazil's independence from the Portuguese monarchs, city old-timers remembered the idea of ​​a French priest and decided to erect a statue. Money for such a large-scale project was collected with the help of the 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 reis (as the Brazilian real is called in the plural).

Of the three designs, Christ the Redeemer, created by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, was chosen. Many people worked on the project. Among them is the creator of the model, artist Carlos Oswald (it was he who proposed making a statue with arms spread to the sides). 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, they decided to settle on a traditional, more stable form of base. In the course of painstaking work, the final design of the monument was formed, which we can now see. The main emphasis was placed on the widely spaced hands of Jesus. From a distance, the monument looks like a large 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, construction of the statue had already begun, and construction lasted for 9 long years. It was even necessary to re-announce “Monument Week” in 1929 to collect the missing Money. Finally, the unveiling and dedication ceremony of the statue took place on October 12, 1931.

$250,000 was spent on the monument, as they say “with that money.” If we translate them into today's terms, then this is about 3.5 million dollars.

Despite its size and weight, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer seems light and airy, literally floating above the city.

Construction process

The same road built at the end of the 19th century came in handy. Most of the building materials and structural elements were delivered to the top using this road.
The main part of the monument was created on the spot, but the arms and head were created in France, delivered to Brazil in parts and assembled directly on the mountain. The base of the monument consists of reinforced concrete. The metal frame of the statue was also designed in France and brought to the mountain in parts. At that time, Brazil did not have the technology to create such a design, so it was necessary to go through such difficulties.

During construction, Heitor de Silva constantly thought that the monument was missing something, that it needed to be given the true essence of a work of art. He remembered how in 1927 he visited the newly opened Arcade Gallery in Paris on the Champs Elysees, and, while walking, saw a beautiful fountain covered with silver mosaics. 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 was needed, he began searching for suitable material. And I found him. It turned out to be soapstone, also called “soapstone”. The beautiful, pliable, erosion-resistant material was abundant in the surrounding area. Pieces of soapstone were cut into thousands of triangles and hand-glued to the surface of the statue.

It is noteworthy that some ladies from the local society wrote the names of their relatives on the back of the triangles before they were glued to the statue.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer today

Now the sculpture is not only a symbol of faith, it is the face of the whole country in general and the city of Rio de Janeiro in particular. It is also a recognized landmark on a planetary scale. Therefore, to the delight of travelers and city residents, it is illuminated. 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 ones were carried out 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 Brazilian, then the Pope.”

In July 2007, during an online survey, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer was recognized as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.

In October 2007, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church For the first time, they held a service near the statue.

On April 16, 2010, the monument was desecrated by vandals for the first time in history. The hands and face of the statue were covered in paint. True, traces of barbarism were very quickly removed. There is information that in addition to the traditionally abstract graffiti that is understandable only to the authors, a phrase was written on the statue, which in Russian can be translated approximately as “The cat is out of the house - the mice are dancing.”

In 2011, the 80th anniversary of the statue was celebrated. The holiday was grandiose. Special honors were addressed to Hayter de Silva Costa and Sebastien Lemay, without whom the project would hardly have been possible.

In February 2016, Patriarch of All Rus' Kirill performed a prayer service in support of Christianity.

When coming to Rio de Janeiro, be sure to take at least one day to explore the statue and fill your phone or camera’s memory card with fresh and oh-so-stunning photos.
The statue is hollow inside and theoretically it is possible to take similar pictures. The main thing is not to do this during a thunderstorm, otherwise a lightning strike is very, very likely, and this is unpleasant... probably.

There is a fee to visit the monument.

Here's a short list of doppelgängers.

Christ the King in the capital of Portugal, Lisbon. 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 the town of Vung Tau in 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

Where isChrist statue? Description of the main attractionBrazil.

The many faces and beauty of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil. Samba and the roar of Iguazu Falls, the sparkling beaches of Florianopolis and muddy waters The Amazon, the famous resort of Trancoso with its castles and estates and, of course, football.

Rio is the country's largest metropolis and a recognized center of tourism and football. The city is interesting with many museums, monasteries and churches. Here you will see magnificent modern skyscrapers, luxurious villas and favelas clinging to the mountain slopes - illegal neighborhoods with dangerous slums and red light districts - fans of crime action films might see them in the movie "Fast and the Furious 5".

You should definitely take a look at the Selaron staircase leading to St. Teresa's Cathedral. The steps of the staircase are lined with a mosaic of multi-colored tiles from all over the world. The creator of the staircase had a magnificent mustache - it is unknown what attracted tourists more. Unfortunately, not so long ago the artist was found dead right on the steps of the cathedral.

Christ statuephoto

Road to Jesus: the path to the top of Corcovado

The symbol of Rio de Janeiro and perhaps the main attraction of Brazil is the majestic monument depicting Christ the Savior crowning Mount Corcovado. The almost vertical slope is a natural seven hundred meter continuation of the pedestal of the giant sculpture. The Savior’s gaze is directed to the city spread out at the foot of the famous hill, the port of Cristo Redentor, and, perhaps, the whole world.

The imperturbable colossus welcomes about two million guests a year. Crowds of tourists rise to its foot every day, despite the fact that the road is not so easy. You can overcome the climb yourself - take a walk through the nearby Tijuca Park - it is considered the largest city forested area. Here you can try to offer your company to nimble monkeys, iguanas and even small but beautiful hummingbirds.

But only the bravest ones overcome the slope on foot... And the thrifty ones. Those who value comfort will be taken by taxi along the winding road. The classic option for 43 reais is an electric train with small creaky carriages, which in twenty minutes will take those interested through Tijuca Park directly to the foot of the statue. But that's not all - more than two hundred steep steps await visitors there. Well... Or you can take the escalator.

How to see pictures from postcards

To avoid crowds, it is better to sacrifice a couple of sweet morning dreams. But you will be rewarded with the opportunity to unobstructedly admire the magnificent views of Guanabara Bay, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, the world-famous beaches of the carnival city and the Maracana Stadium (yes, the same one that hosted two world football championships).

By the way, the view of the monument itself is also beautiful, but it is better to admire it from another peak that rises directly above the bay. Pan di Azucar, or “Sugarloaf”, is of interest to tourists and can delight you with photographs that can compete with all the glossy pictures that you have seen so far. The helicopters, like giant dragonflies circling around Jesus, add a strange flavor to the view. Helicopter tours are becoming increasingly popular: $150 can buy you 10 minutes of an unforgettable experience.

No less interesting is the view of the Corcovado and Christ hills in the evening - the night illumination system changes the picture beyond recognition. By the way, the lighting was modernized relatively recently - in 2000.

Before ending your visit to the famous sculpture, it is worth visiting the small Catholic chapel hidden in a marble pedestal. The chapel is operational; all religious services and rituals are held there.

Some facts

By historical standards, the Sculpture of Christ the Savior is a relatively young shrine. Money for its construction was collected for the centenary of Brazilian independence, but the construction of the monument dragged on for 9 years. Some parts were made in France. The opening and consecration took place in 1931.

The Catholic diocese preserved the stock of stone from which the shrine was made, and, as time has shown, not in vain. Being the highest point for many kilometers around, the structure attracts lightning. The landmark had to be restored twice already.

And more recently the symbol largest city Brazil was desecrated. In 2010, while the monument was closed to visitors due to the danger of landslides, unknown vandals managed to climb the 40-meter statue and decorate the monument with inscriptions of their choice.

Of course, it is unlikely that this somehow offended Christ the Savior. Rather, it only confirmed that our world really needs to be saved. But it’s still very good that all the inscriptions were promptly removed. It’s hard to imagine Jesus shining against the blue sky, frozen in an attempt to embrace the planet, decorated with neatly written graffiti: “cat on the roof, mice dance.” Well, it’s somehow not suitable for a magical postcard calling you on your way.

Important information aboutstatue of ChristVBrazil: opening hours, prices, currency.

Operating mode:

annually from Monday to Sunday from 8.30 to 19.00

Ticket prices:

1 adult ticket - 43 reais (over 65 years old - 4.4 euros).

1 child ticket (up to 12 years old) – 1.5 euros ( up to 6 years - free ).