Everything about the Redeemer Christ, also called the Corcovado, the statue that watches over Rio de Janeiro!
Honored in 2007 by his appointment Seven new Wonders of the World , Christ Redeemer stands proudly on the mountain Corcovado above the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil . Also known as Cristo Redentor In Portuguese, this statue is considered one of the most beautiful examples of architecture created by Man. Over the years, the statue has undergone many renovations. It symbolizes Christianity and is an icon of Rio and Brazil. She is also one of the most recognized statues in the world. The splendour of this statue was also the star of several films and inspired many poems. Here is a list of facts and anecdotes on the statue of Christ Redeemer :
Flickr – David Berkowitz
1. The construction of the statue began in 1922 and was inaugurated on 12 October 1931. It therefore took a nine-year period to be completely over.
2. The total cost of the monument was $250,000 (or $3,300,000 today).
3. High 38 meters (including pedestal), the Redeemer Christ is one of the largest statues in the world.
4. It consists of reinforced concrete and steatite (soft clamp composed of talc).
5. The whole statue of Christ weighs 1145 tons. The statue alone weighs 635 tons.
6. It is located on the Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city.
7. The left arm points to the northern area of Rio de Janeiro, the right to the south zone, while the holy place offers spectacular views of Ipanema, the football stadium Maracanã , and the mountains of the Serra do Órgãos.
8. The idea of building a religious monument at the top of the Corcovado was suggested for the first time in 1859 by the lazarist Father Pedro Maria Boss.
9. The original design of this statue was made by a man named Oswald. He had drawn the christ with a terrestrial globe in one hand and a cross in the other, standing on a pedestal symbolizing the world. This design was not retained.
10. Then the idea of having an open-arm statue was made by Heitor da Silva Costa. The idea was shaped by French sculptor Paul Landowski.
11. The reason why it was built was to show that Christ loves us all, or to embrace all who come to him.
12. In October 2006, for the 75th anniversary of the statue, the Archbishop of Rio Eusebio Oscar Scheid dedicated a chapel, named after the Patron of Brazil, Nossa Senhora Aparecida, under the statue. This allows Catholics to perform baptisms and marriages.
Flickr – Rodrigo_Soldon
13. On July 7, 2007, the statue of the Redeemer Christ was honoured as one of the seven new wonders of the world.
14. The Catholic community of Brazil donated money for the construction of the statue of Christ.
15. The stones of the statue were brought from Sweden.
16. The statue of the Redeemer Christ was officially presented to the public on 12 October 1931 by former President of Brazil, Getulio Vargas.
17. This colossal statue inspired many poems and songs such as " Blessed to be a Witness » by Ben Harper, and Corcovado » by Tom Jobim.
18. Although she was struck by lightning in 2008, the statue suffered minimal damage. This was due to the exterior in stearate on the statue, which acted as an insulating. However, the fingers, eyebrows and the head of the statue were damaged.
19. The pieces that were used for its construction were transported to the top through the Railway to Cremailer Corcovado.
20. IPHAN or the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional declared Christ the Redeemer as a protected monument.
21. In 2010, the statue was exposed to an act of vandalism, when it was painted by a vandalist.
22. To reach the statue you must climb 220 steps (at the top), but an escalator was built in 2003 to allow its older or weakest visitors to be able to reach the foot of the statue and enjoy the panorama.
23. The best time to visit the Statue of the Redeemer Christ is the night or night when you can enjoy the extraordinary lights of Rio de Janeiro. Easter and Christmas are the times when there is the most world.
24. Locally in Brazil, it is said that if Christ has his arms open, it is because he waits for them cariocas (population of Rio) are working to applaud them.
25. The Corcovado is accessible by a small red train leaving Cosme Velho train station. Inaugurated in 1884, in 1912 the first train was electrified.
26. The site welcomes more than 600,000 visitors per year and is one of the most visited tourist sites in Rio.
27. Portugal has its own replica of Christ the Redeemer in Almada. Built in 1959 and named "Christ King" ( Cristo-Rei in Portuguese), the statue stands 110 meters high and offers one of the most beautiful views of Lisbon.
28. During the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, it will be 83 years since Christ watches over Rio de Janeiro and the cariocas.
Have you visited the Redeemer Christ? What did you like in this visit?
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