The statue of Christ the Redeemer has been towering over Rio de Janeiro for 90 years

Rio de Janeiro – The giant statue of Christ the Redeemer was unveiled on the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro on October 12, 1931. It is as inseparable from the second-largest Brazilian city as the famous Copacabana beach or the annual samba festival. In July 2007, it was included in the modern list of the New Seven Wonders of the World and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.

The cornerstone of the statue was laid in April 1922 to mark the hundredth anniversary of the declaration of independence of the country. The following year, the project of Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa was selected in an architectural competition. However, the statue itself is the work of French sculptor Paul Landowski. Construction of the monument began in 1926, and it was completed five years later. The interior consists of a reinforced concrete structure, which is clad externally with a sheath of soapstone. This exceptionally soft mineral lends Christ a dull white color.

Contrary to initial expectations, the 30-meter-tall statue became more of a tourist attraction than a pilgrimage site. From the observation deck at its base, one of the most beautiful views of Guanabara Bay and Rio de Janeiro can be enjoyed.