Big statue of jesus christ. Where is the statue of Christ the Savior (Redeemer)

From the top of Mount Corcovado, an amazing view opens up - a long strip of Copacabana beach, Sugar Loaf peak, and of course, the city, the magical city of Rio de Janeiro! From this point, perhaps, it is impossible to consider only the symbol of the metropolis and the symbol of Brazil - the Statue of Christ the Redeemer, because we are located directly at its foot

The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous and popular monuments in the world. Every year, millions of tourists rise to its foot, from where a stunning panorama of the city and the bay opens with the picturesque Sugar Loaf Mountain (port. - Pan di Azucar), the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, a huge bowl of the Maracana stadium.

An electrified railway (the first in Brazil) leads to the top, with a miniature train running along it. It was built by engineers Pereira Passos and Terceira Soares long before the statue of Christ - in 1882-1884, and subsequently played a big role in the construction of the monument: building materials were delivered upstairs through it

You can also get to the statue by car on the freeway passing through the Tijuca State Reserve. Tijuca is the largest urban forest in the world.

In 1921, the upcoming centenary of Brazil's national independence (1922) inspired the city fathers - Rio de Janeiro was then the capital of Brazil - to create a monument to Christ the Redeemer. O Cruzeiro magazine announced a fundraiser for a subscription to the construction of the monument. The campaign generated 2.2 million flights. The church also joined the fundraising: the then Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, don Sebastian Leme, took a great part in the creation of the monument. The construction of the statue lasted about nine years - from 1922 to 1931

The original sketch of the monument was developed by the artist Carlos Oswald. It was he who suggested depicting Christ with arms outstretched in a gesture of blessing, which would make the figure look like a huge cross from a distance. In the original version, the pedestal for the statue was supposed to be in the shape of a globe. The final design of the monument was developed by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa (Heitor da Silva Costa)

Since for a number of reasons, including technological ones, it was then impossible to create such a huge sculpture in Brazil, all its details, including the frame, were made in France. In 1924 the French sculptor Paul Landowski finished modeling the statue's head (3.75 meters high) and arms. Unassembled, all the details of the monument were delivered to Brazil and transported by rail to the top of Mount Corcovado. From the end point of the rail track to the foot of the statue, a winding staircase of 220 steps was built, nicknamed "Karakol" ("Snail"), and in the thickness of the marble base - a small chapel

On October 12, 1931, the grand opening and consecration of the monument, which became the symbol of Rio de Janeiro, took place.

In 1965, the statue was re-consecrated by Pope Paul VI, and in 1981, Pope John Paul II attended the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the monument.

Over the past 75 years, the statue has been repaired twice - in 1980 and 1990. In 1932 and 2000, the night illumination system was upgraded. In 2003, the lift leading to the observation deck was equipped with escalators.

In 2007, the statue was selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Here are some interesting facts about this incredible structure:

• At the statue Christ the Redeemer there are several doppelgangers. For example, the statue of Christo Rei (Christ the King), which is located in Lisbon (built in 1949-1959). Her height is about 28 meters, but instead of a hill, a pedestal about 80 meters high is used.
• In Vung Tau (Vietnam), a similar statue of Christ with outstretched arms was erected in 1972. It stands on a small hill (132 meters high) and has the following parameters: height - 32 meters, and arm span, a little less than 20 meters.
• On the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia (a Muslim country!) in 2007, they completed the construction of a 30-meter giant depicting Jesus Christ stretching his arms over the metropolis of Monado.
• There is even a stone Jesus Christ in East Timor, near the capital of the state - Dili (the height of the monument is 27 meters).
• Sculptures depicting Jesus were also erected in Malta, the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Honduras. It is planned to build similar monuments in Slovakia and Germany.
• The very statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is often identified with other grandiose architectural structures of the past and present -

One of the most famous statues in the world and certainly the most recognizable in Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Installed on Mount Corcovado at an altitude of more than 700 meters, with outstretched arms in a blessing gesture, it looks at the huge city below it. The statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, due to its fame, attracts millions of tourists to Mount Corcovado. From its height, a beautiful view of the ten-millionth city with its bays, beaches, the Maracanã stadium opens up.

Statue of Christ in Rio: history and description

In 1884, a small railway was built on the mountain, along which building materials were delivered just later. The reason for the erection of the monument of Christ was the approaching centenary of the independence of Brazil in 1922. Fundraising was announced to create a monument in what was then the capital of Brazil. For example, the magazine "O Cruzeiro" collected about 2.2 million reais from its subscription. The church, represented by Archbishop Sebastian Leme, was also actively involved in the preparation of the financial fund.

The idea of ​​Christ with outstretched arms, resembling a cross from a distance, belongs to the artist Carlos Osvaldo. According to this first layout, the statue of Christ was supposed to stand on the globe. The final project, according to which the sculpture was created, was created by Heitor da Silva Costa. According to it, the height of the structure is 38 meters, of which 8 meters goes to the pedestal, and the arm span reaches 28 meters. With such striking dimensions, the total weight of the structure was 1145 tons.

Brazilian technology at that time did not allow most of the work on the implementation of such a project, so all the details of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil were created in France, from where they were safely delivered to Brazil and raised to the installation site by the built railway. From the end of the railway to the statue itself, a path of 220 steps was built, called "Karakol". Interestingly, there is a chapel inside the basement of the monument.

The construction of the monument took about nine years. The opening and consecration of the statue took place on October 12, 1931. The statue quickly assumed the role of a symbol of Rio de Janeiro and all of Brazil. And in 2007 she was elected one of the

The statue of Christ the Redeemer stands in the former capital of Brazil - Rio de Janeiro. In 2007, she was included in the New Seven Wonders of the World list. Its height is 38 meters, weight 1145 tons, arm span 30 meters. It was built on Mount Corcovado, which means "Humpback Mountain". It got its name from its shape.

In 1859, the Holy Father Pedro Maria Boss arrived in Rio de Janeiro. He was so surprised by the beauty of Mount Corcovado that he proposed to build a religious monument on its summit. The idea was approved, and the construction of the railway leading to the top of the mountain began. The railroad was completed by 1884. And the construction of the statue was postponed.

The history of the construction of the monument

The construction of a gigantic monument was again discussed in 1921. It was then that it was decided that it would be a huge statue of Christ. The opening of the monument was planned to coincide with the centenary of the independence of Brazil, which was to take place a year later. Fundraising was announced throughout the country. And after the money was collected, construction began.

The project was originally drawn by Brazilian artist Carlos Oswald. On his model, the pedestal looked like a globe, and Christ stood on it with outstretched arms. The monument looked like a big cross. Later, the engineer Heitorom da Silva Costa changed the shape of the pedestal to a more classical one. Due to the impossibility of creating such huge monuments in Brazil, their construction was carried out in France. As a result, the French sculptor Paul Landowski took part in the process of creating the figure. All the components of the sculpture were transported by sea, and then delivered to the top of the mountain by rail. A staircase with 223 steps leads from it to the final installation site. It's called "Snail".

On October 12, 1931, the opening and consecration of the monument took place. In 1965, the statue of Christ the Redeemer was consecrated by Pope Paul VI. Subsequently, the statue was reconstructed several times, and in 2003 the lift was equipped with escalators.

Now the Statue of Christ the Redeemer is the hallmark of Rio de Janeiro. Tourists from all over the world appreciated the bold project of Brazilian architects and engineers and now it is one of the most visited attractions in the world.

On a note

• Location: Rio de Janeiro, Rua Cosme Velho, 513.
• Official website: http://www.corcovado.com.br

The majestic statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) is located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. This grandiose building on Mount Corcovado is a tourist symbol of Brazil, classified as a new wonder of the world. The height of Corcovado is 800 m, and the famous statue installed on its top is 38 m (together with an 8-meter marble pedestal).

A giant statue of Christ with outstretched arms spanning 28 m from a distance looks like a cross. Despite the weight exceeding a thousand tons, the monument looks elegant. From its foot opens a bewitching panorama of the city, which is admired by about 2 million tourists every year.

Creation of a statue of Christ

The name of the mountain is translated as "Hunchback". In 1859, the Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss, who visited Rio de Janeiro, saw her. He approached the Brazilian princess Isabel of Braganza with the idea of ​​building a large sculpture of the Savior on top of Corcovado. He was supported in the church environment, but the state did not have the opportunity to finance such an expensive project. The idea was postponed until better times, but for now they limited themselves to the construction of a railway line reaching the top of Corcovado.

They returned to the idea in 1921, on the eve of the centennial anniversary of the country's independence. There was still no state money for the construction, especially since by that time the church had been separated from the state, which had become a republic.

Catholic organizations decided to add donations from citizens to their own funds. They were told that if they managed to raise the necessary amount, then the construction of a monument to Christopher Columbus planned on the mountain Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf) would be cancelled. Brazilians do not really favor Columbus, considering him the culprit of the Portuguese colonization of the country. In a short time, it was possible to collect 2.2 million flights (as the Brazilian real currency was then pronounced in the plural), so the monument is a real folk project.

The winner of the competition announced by the mayor of Rio de Janeiro was local artist Carlos Oswald. He is the author of a sketch of a sculpture with outstretched arms, at a distance resembling a huge cross: "Come to Me, all you who are laboring and burdened, and I will give you rest." According to his idea, the Savior had to stand on a spherical pedestal, symbolizing the Earth. However, the technical difficulties of implementation forced to stop on a rectangular base, erected by engineer Hector de Silva Costa.

The design and construction participants worked with great enthusiasm. Some of them even lived in tents near the construction site.

The components of the statue itself were made in France, which had a greater technical potential than Brazil. The materials for the manufacture of steel were reinforced concrete and soapstone (called soapstone). The latter was specially imported from Sweden, from the Lymhamn field. The final modeling of the head and hands of Christ was carried out by the French specialist Paul Landowski with assistants.

Finished components were delivered to Rio de Janeiro. This is where the old railway line came in handy. On it, the details of the sculpture were raised to its future location - the top of Corcovado, where the final installation was carried out.

The construction took 9 years instead of the planned year.

The monument was solemnly opened and consecrated in 1931.

• Rising above the surrounding area, the statue regularly receives lightning strikes. However, they did not cause serious damage to the monument. It was also bypassed by the extreme storm of 2008, which destroyed the nearby neighborhoods of Rio. Believers tend to associate this fact with the holiness of the place. The prosaic explanation boils down to the excellent dielectric properties of soapstone. The local Catholic diocese has a permanent supply of it.
• After statues of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil sculptures similar in composition were installed in Lisbon, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Malta, Indonesia, Vietnam, and East Timor. There are even underwater sculptures that have received the name "Christ from the Abyss".
• The initial illumination was carried out using radio waves remotely controlled from Rome. The distance from it to Rio is 9200 km.

Modernity

The monument was restored three times - in 1980, 1990 and 2010. Night illumination was modernized in 1932 and 2000. In 2011, on the day of the city, the statue received new lighting, consisting of 300 computer-controlled LED spotlights. It allows you to optimally select the intensity of radiation and the color range of each of them.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer makes a particularly stunning impression at night. The backlight creates the effect of light radiation coming from the giant figure of the Savior descending into the city. Religious people remember His inspired words: "I am the light of the world..." and "I am with you all the days until the end of time."

From the foot you can see an impressive panorama of Rio de Janeiro with the Bay of Baía da Guanabara, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, the Pão de Açúcar mountain and the Estádio do Maracanã stadium. True, not in rainy weather, when only fog and clouds are visible.

There is a small chapel in the marble plinth of the pedestal, where services, baptisms and weddings are regularly held. There is a gift shop nearby. It is not difficult to guess the most popular souvenirs. In the city they are much cheaper.

Cristo Redentor is one of the most popular travel brands. Spectacular shooting of the monument can be seen in a number of films.

How to get there

The statue is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. To the top of Mount Corcovado from the city center can be reached by taxi or funicular. A train of two trailers runs from 08:30 to 18:30 every half hour, and takes tourists to the mountain in 20 minutes. The cost of a round-trip ticket is 51 BRL (Brazilian reals).

Both of these vehicles pass through Parque Nacional da Tijuca, the world's largest urban forest. Both the car and the train do not reach the monument. A steep staircase of 223 steps leads to it. Climbing it is difficult for children, the weak and the elderly. A convenient alternative is the escalator built in 2003. Wealthy travelers have the opportunity to book a helicopter tour for 150 USD.

Many have seen images of a huge statue of Jesus Christ with arms spread wide. Its correct name is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It rises above the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and is located not far from it on the peak of Mount Corcovado. A chic view is this statue in the evening. Illuminated by pillars of light, the figure of Christ seems to be descending into the sleeping city. In Rio de Janeiro, no matter where you look, you will always see this huge statue, which seems to be striving to embrace the whole world with its gigantic arms.

The history of the creation of the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Since ancient times, the mountain on which the statue rises was called the Mountain of Temptation and was mentioned in the Bible. Later, in the Middle Ages, it was called Corcovado, which means "hunchback". This name was given to her in connection with a bizarre shape that resembled a hump. The first expedition to this mountain went in 1824.

For the first time, the idea of ​​​​creating a statue of Christ on Mount Corcovado came up with the Catholic clergyman Pedro Maria Boss in 1859. When he arrived in Rio de Janeiro, the magnificent view of the mountain overwhelmed him. Then Father Pedro decided to ask Princess Isabella, daughter of the Emperor of Brazil, to finance this project. And to ensure the success of his business, he proposed to name the statue in honor of the princess. However, in those days, the state could not afford such a large expense, so the decision to erect the statue was postponed until 1889. However, even then the plan of Father Pedro was not destined to come true. The church was separated from the state during the change in the form of government, and the clergy could no longer ask for funding for such projects.

In 1884, the construction of the railway was completed, which ran just up to Mount Corcovado. Later, materials for the construction of the statue were brought along this road.

The idea of ​​building a statue of Christ the Redeemer was remembered only in 1921. Then, at the initiative of the Catholic organizations of Rio de Janeiro, it was decided to erect a statue on Mount Corcovado, colossal in size, which could be seen from any part of the city. This monument was to become not only a symbol of Christianity, but also a symbol of the liberation and revival of the country. During the week activists collected signatures and donations, this period was called "Monument Week". The inhabitants of the city liked this idea, they willingly donated various amounts of money. Of course, the church also made considerable financial investments. The erection of the statue of Christ the Redeemer is a real folk project.

The erection of the statue of the "fathers of the city" was also inspired by the fact that very soon, in 1922, Brazil was to celebrate 100 years of independence from Portugal. Therefore, they decided to start building the monument as soon as possible. April 22, 1921 is considered the start date for the creation of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. It was decided to build a monument of reinforced concrete and soapstone.

For the version of the statue that now towers over Rio de Janeiro, we should be grateful to the engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. It was he who suggested depicting Christ with arms outstretched to the sides. The meaning of this pose lies in the phrase "Everything that exists is in the hands of the Lord."

The artist Carlos Oswald completed the image of Christ, and the calculations for the installation of the monument were made by Costa Hisses, Pedro Viana and Heitor Levy. In 1927, everything was ready for the erection of the statue of Christ the Redeemer - from drawings and calculations to materials. The records of those times say that everyone involved in the project was inspired and made every effort. Some engineers and artists even pitched tents and lived near the site where the statue was erected.

An interesting fact is that foreigners also helped the Brazilians in the construction of this monument. For example, the head and hands of Christ were made of plaster in France by the sculptor Paul Landowski and later shipped to Brazil. Also, many French engineers participated in the development of drawings. They also suggested using a reinforced concrete frame, although before that it was decided to make a steel frame. And the soapstone from which the outer layer of the statue was made was brought from Sweden. This material was most suitable for such a colossal structure due to its strength and ease of use.

The erection of the statue lasted about 4 years and, finally, in 1931, a solemn ceremony of opening the statue of Christ the Redeemer took place. The size and complexity of the execution of the monument struck then all those present at the ceremony. There were tears in the eyes of many believers. And after many years, people continue to be amazed by this truly gigantic structure, which carries a hidden meaning.

The greatness of the statue of Christ the Redeemer

Every year, thousands of tourists and pilgrims make the long journey to marvel at the majesty of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. At the same time, the huge and meek figure of Christ spreads his arms over Rio de Janeiro, and maybe the whole world, as if embracing and protecting him. This monument has been recognized as one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. Its height is 38 meters, the arm span is 30 meters, and the monument weighs 1145 tons.

An interesting fact is that during the strongest storm that swept through Rio de Janeiro on July 10, 2008 and caused a lot of destruction to the city, it did not affect the statue of Christ the Redeemer in any way. Even the lightning that hit her left no trace. Pragmatists associate this with the dielectric properties of soapstone, and believers, of course, attach sacred meaning to this fact.