Honored recently among the Seven Wonders of the World, Christ the Redeemer statue stands tall at the Corcovado Mountain near the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The statue symbolizes Christianity and is an icon of Rio and Brazil. It is one of the most recognized statues in the world. Christ with his arms open in the statue is symbolical of the love Christ had for one and all. From the statue one derives the meaning that He seems to embrace everyone who comes to Him. Explore to find some of the interesting and fun facts about Christ the Redeemer.
Fun & Interesting Facts about Christ the Redeemer
- This statue was built in the 1931. Construction started in 1922 and was completed in 1931. It took a span of nine years to complete it.
- The cost of the monument was $250,000.
- This statue is one of the biggest statues in the world.
- It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone.
- It takes about 220 steps to see the statue up close.
- The statue stands 38 metres tall weighs 700 short tons (635 tonnes)
- It is located at Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city.
- The left arm points to the Rio de Janeiro's north zone, the right to the south zone, while the saintly perch offers spectacular views of Ipanema, the Maracana soccer stadium and the Serra do Órgãos mountain range.
- The original design for this statue was made by a man named Oswald. He had designed it to have a globe in one, and standing over a pedestal symbolizing the world. This design was not agreed on.
- Then, the idea of having the statue with wide open arms was made by Heitor da Silva Costa. The idea was further created into form by French sculptor Paul Landowski.
- The reason why it was built was to show that the Christ loves all.
- The reason why it was built with wide open arms is to embrace all that come to him.
- In October 2006, on the statue's 75th anniversary, Archbishop of Rio Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid consecrated a chapel, named for the patron saint of Brazil - Nossa Senhora Aparecida, under the statue. This allows Catholics to hold baptisms and weddings there.
- On July 7, 2007, it was honored as one of the New Seven Wonders Of The World.
