An unforgettable tour of the "Christ the Redeemer" Rio de Janeiro - BRA

I live in Rio de Janeiro and see Christ the Redeemer almost every day, from different angles, from different parts of the city, but seeing it up close always gives a chill! Knowing that many people have doubts about where it is and how to get to Christ the Redeemer, I decided to write a very detailed post to clarify doubts.

The statue is 38 meters high – the equivalent of a 13-story building – and was built in reinforced concrete, which made its cost lower. Converting to today's values, spending on the Christ works would be the equivalent of R$9.5 million, while those on the Statue of Liberty, which has a metallic frame, would be R$228 million.

The fact is, the investment was worth every penny. At the top of Morro do Corcovado, 710 meters above sea level, Christ the Redeemer is today one of the greatest symbols of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil and one of the most visited monuments in the world. A postcard that, in addition to being impressive in itself, offers one of the most beautiful views of the Marvelous City.

The construction of the monument was from 1922 to 1931 and, contrary to what many people think, the Christ the Redeemer was not a donation from the French government. Conceived in the celebrations of the centenary of the Independence of Brazil, the statue was fully funded by donations from the Brazilian population. The fact that it was designed by a French architect is what may have given rise to this legend.

A few years ago, its undeniable grandeur and prominence gained worldwide recognition. In July 2007, Christ the Redeemer was named one of the 7 New Wonders of the Modern World, along with the Great Wall of China; the city of Petra, Jordan; Machu Picchu, in Peru; the Chichen Itzá pyramid in Mexico; the Coliseum in Rome; and the Taj Mahal in India. Merited

A year after his choice, in 2008, lightning damaged his fingers and part of his head, and Christ the Redeemer had to undergo renovations, having lightning rods installed in its structure after the restoration.

And it is not just against the rays that Christ the Redeemer is protected. Its structure is prepared to withstand winds of up to 250km/h, equivalent to a category 5 hurricane such as Katrina.

Fortunately, our Christ remains more whole than ever and has recently received another important title, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Cultural Landscape category.

With so many attributes, illustrious visitors have been there during its more than eight decades of existence: Pope John Paul II, Dalai Lama, Princess Diana, Prince Charles and Barack Obama.

Address: Tijuca National Park - Alto da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro - RJ

Hours: Open ⋅ Closes at 7:00 pm

Artists: Paul Landowski, Heitor da Silva Costa, Albert Caquot, Gheorghe Leonida

Height: 38 m

Construction begins: April 4, 1922

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Corcovado

Opening: October 12, 1931

Creation: 1922–1931