✝️ Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)

About This Sacred Site

Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ standing 30 meters tall (with an 8-meter pedestal) atop Mount Corcovado at 710 meters above Rio de Janeiro. Completed in 1931, the statue was designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by French artist Paul Landowski, with Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida creating the face. Its outstretched arms span 28 meters, embracing the city below. Selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the statue has become not only Brazil's most recognizable landmark but a global symbol of Christianity, peace, and welcome. Lightning strikes the statue an average of six times per year.

History & Origins

Christ the Redeemer, inaugurated in 1931 atop Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was designed by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted by French artist Paul Landowski. Standing 30 meters tall with an 8-meter pedestal, the Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ with outstretched arms symbolizes peace and welcoming. The idea originated in the 1850s but gained momentum in the 1920s through the Catholic Circle of Rio. Constructed from reinforced concrete and soapstone to withstand the elements, it took nine years to complete. The statue has become an iconic representation of Christianity in Latin America and a cultural symbol of Brazil. Over the decades, it has undergone several restorations to repair damage from weather and lightning strikes. Designated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Christ the Redeemer remains a pilgrimage site and a global religious landmark.

Spiritual Significance

Unveiled in 1931 atop the 710-meter Mount Corcovado, the statue stands 30 meters tall with outstretched arms spanning 28 meters, symbolizing Christ’s embrace of humanity according to Christian theology found in John 3:16. Recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, it serves as a pilgrimage destination during the Feast of Christ the King, attracting thousands who ascend the mountain via the Corcovado Rack Railway or by foot to participate in Mass and processions. The statue’s Art Deco style, designed by Paul Landowski, reflects early 20th-century religious art movements embracing monumental public Christian symbolism. Pilgrims often engage in prayers invoking redemption and forgiveness, referencing Pauline epistles on salvation (Romans 5:8). The site’s elevated location enables panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro, enhancing the metaphor of Christ overseeing and blessing the city, a theological embodiment of divine protection and presence.

Key Facts

• •Stands 30 meters tall on an 8-meter pedestal atop 710-meter Mount Corcovado
• •Named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007
• •The outstretched arms span 28 meters and weigh approximately 635 tonnes total
• •Constructed of reinforced concrete and soapstone between 1922 and 1931
• •Lightning strikes the statue an average of six times per year

Location

Coordinates: -22.9519, -43.2105