Christ the Redeemer’s statue is found in Tijuca National Park, at the Corcovado Mountain, Brazil. It is considered an iconic symbol of Rio de Janeiro.
A Catholic Priest suggested the idea of building an altar to the Virgin Mary in 1850. The Catholic community of Brazil funded the project. Brazil decided to have a monument in commemoration of its centenary celebrations, after Brazil had become an independent republic in 1989. It was only in 1920 that a group of people petitioned to have a landmark statue built.
Paul Landowski, a French sculptor who created the design, chose from many ideas. Construction began in 1922. It took nine year to complete. Christ the Redeemer cost $250,000. Today, this is equivalent to?2.3million British Pounds. Heitor Costa Costa, an engineer, oversaw the construction. The concrete was reinforced and the soapstone used to make the exterior was imported from Sweden because of its resistance to weather extremes. This monument holds great meaning and significance. The Landmark’s base is home to a chapel that can be used as a place for ceremonies. Brazilians were concerned about the advancing tides of godlessness and came up with the idea of a monument in Christ’s honor. Brazilians share the same traits as Christ: Tolerance and benevolence. At 635 tonnes and 120 feet high, the statue is visited by more than a million people each year. Christ the Redeemer became a national monument and shrine in 2006 and was later included on the Seven Wonders of the World. It is the world’s fifth largest art deco and the largest among Jesus’. With its rich history and meaning, the Redeemer is an iconic symbol of Rio de Janeiro. It continues to amaze and beguile people, even after more than 80 years.
