Brazil’s statue of Christ the Redeemer has long been a symbol of the welcoming spirit of the Brazilian people. An easily recognizable landmark, this famous statue was recently recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, and while it serves as a symbol of Christianity in a country where faith is paramount, it has become a must-see for visitors to Rio de Janeiro, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Though the Christ the Redeemer statue was built in 1931, the idea for the construction of a religious symbol in Rio goes back to about 1850, when a Catholic priest – Dom Pedro Maria Boss – approached Portuguese Princess Isabel and asked for funds to build such an icon. Isabel refused. While the idea to erect the statue remained on the minds of the city’s priests, the plan was abandoned altogether in 1889 when Brazil passed laws deeming a separation of church and state. That meant the construction of a religious statue would be against the law. However, less than a half century passed until the idea was once again proposed. In 1921, the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro asked for permission to erect a large landmark statue atop the Corcovado mountain, also known as “hunchback mountain”, overlooking the city. To secure funding for the project, the archdiocese held a “Monument Week’ – Semana do Monumento – asking for donations to help build the statue. A large portion of the funds came from the many Brazilian Catholics who lived in the city at the time. Once the funds were collected, several proposals for the design of the statue were received. The art deco Christ the Redeemer with outstretched arms, designed by local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, was selected. The sculptor for the project was Poland-born French sculptor, Paul Landowski, who was also responsible for producing thirty-five noteworthy monuments for the city of Paris. The statue was built of reinforced concrete and the outer layers fashioned from soapstone, which was chosen for its resistance to extreme weather and the winds that were commonplace on top of the Corcovado Mountain, some 2,329 feet in the air. The stone was brought to Rio from the town of Malmö, Sweden and large pieces were carried to the top via the Corcovado Rack Railway. Construction began in 1926 and was complete in 1931. The cost of Christ the Redeemer, including labor and materials, was about $250,000.
Until 2003, visitors to Rio de Janeiro who wanted to see the 98-foot-high statue up close would need to climb 220 steps to the top of the Corcovado mountain after taking the railway to the base of the statue. That year, however, panoramic elevators and escalators were installed, making the monument accessible to everyone. Because of Rio’s delightful weather, it’s possible to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue just about any time of year. The steep train ride is a thrill and the views of Rio from the feet of the statue are breathtaking and well worth the $15 US or so it costs to get there. In 2006, a chapel was built under the statue, named for the patron saint of Brazil. Visitors can offer prayers here and can often view local weddings and baptisms, held regularly in this attractive little chapel.
