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.
In 1850, a Catholic priest suggested the idea of building an religious monument. The funding came from the Catholic community in Brazil. Brazil decided to have a monument in commemoration of its centenary celebrations, after Brazil became a republic. A petition was filed in 1920 to support the construction of a landmark sculpture.
Paul Landowski, a French sculpture, came up with the design. Construction took nine years and began in 1922. Christ the Redeemer cost $250,000. This is equivalent to?2.3 million British Pounds today. 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 is of great significance because it holds significant symbolic and cultural meaning. A chapel was built on the Landmark’s base and is used to perform ceremonies. Brazilians were the ones who came up to create a monument for Christ. 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 fifth largest art deco worldwide and the fifth largest for Jesus. With its rich history and meaning, the Redeemer is an iconic symbol of Rio de Janeiro. Even after nearly 80 years, the Redeemer still amazes and amazes with its beauty.
