Christ, the Redeemer — an icon of the modern world
I’ve been reading the beautifully illustrated Spiritual Places by Sarah Baxter lately. It’s a collection of short stories about spiritual places around the world and their cultural significance. A fascinating book in its own right but that’s not the subject of this post. It did remind me of one of the most striking religious sites I have visited. It’s not a temple, or a cathedral or even a pilgrimage. Some may also question the religious significance of this piece. Standing 38 metres tall, 300m above the infamous Rio de Janeiro and clearly depicting one of the most iconic religious figures in the world, I reckon it’s worth a mention.
One of the must-visit sights in Rio de Janeiro is the impressive Christ the Redeemer. The art deco statue stands atop the Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park. The easiest way to visit is with a combined entrance ticket and transport ticket. You can purchase these from various points across the city. I grabbed mine from the Largo do Machado metro station.
Unfortunately I planned to visit on a weekend, which meant I paid the ‘high season’ prices so if possible, aim to visit mid-week. Transport to Corcovado came in a nice, cool, air-conditioned van. Before departing we waited for the van to fill with eager tourists before winding up the steep road towards the infamous attraction.
From there, stairs lead up to the summit where Christ stands 30m tall (not including the 8m pedestal he stands on). His outstretched arms span 28m wide — that’s about one and a half times a bowling lane!
Take it slow in the heat because once you reach the top you’re very exposed. You’ll forget that in no time as the views hit you and then the crowd becomes a sea of faces. Even at 10.30 am it was pretty busy so if you’re looking for a crowd-free picture take your time to nestle your way to the front and frame your shot.
Close up the artistry behind this statue becomes more apparent. and the sheer scale makes you feel like an ant working on the anthill, not a tourist. But the views. Oh, the views are what it’s all about.
Up there a panoramic view of Rio’s beaches, national parks and the city itself reaches out beneath you. To one side the sea stretches out towards the horizon, gently buffeting at the sandy beaches. Further inland is a mixture of dense jungle, suburbia and city life. With the clear weather, a few clouds breezing through it’s the perfect spot to gaze down at the world. I found something really serene about the view. Perhaps the presence of Christ himself made me feel a little philosophical. Perhaps it was just too hot. Either way, it’s a view to be experienced with the wind in your hair and brushing past your cheek. Photo’s won’t quite capture the magic. Nor can they capture the surprise when you notice a condor gracefully sweeping through the sky.
Top tip: Before leaving Christ check out the small place of worship inside the statue itself. It’s easy to miss so take your time and be sure to explore everything.
And try to go as early as possible. By 1 pm there was more dodging selfie-sticks than philosophical day-dreaming at the views!
The significance of Christ, the Redeemer
The statue of Christ is relatively new having been completed in October 1931 after 5 years of construction. Yet all over the world, we know the symbol of Christ watching over the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro. So why do we care so much about this impressive statue?
- Well, firstly it’s impressive. It’s size, scale and proportions make Christ feel like some sort of superhero, a guardian bearing down over us all. From a distance, the shape of Christ appears to be a simple cross. His proportions echo the religious symbol itself. Up close, you feel small in the presence of Christ as the statue towers over the crowds below. Each of Christ’s hands are 3.2m long if that gives you some idea.
- The materials were chosen to reflect light so Christ is naturally illuminated through day and night. The result is an ever-present symbol of a white cross atop the hill. In fact, this Christ stands out from the history books in its art deco in style. But I don’t think Renaissance lovers will be disappointed. And neither will those looking for a more modern interpretation.
- Ever thought about how they’d build a statue of this scale on top of such a steep mountain? Christ is made from reinforced concrete and covered with an outer shell of soapstone tiles that have to be maintained and cleaned regularly. All the materials were transported to the building site by rail. Then bit by bit the grew the core with tiers of concrete. Around the core they erected scaffolding to add the final layer of soapstone tiles. These tiles were imported from Sweden to give Christ that incandescent feel.
- Symbolically Christ is the human face of God — he forgives, he trusts, he is light. For Christian’s around the world, he is a symbol of hope and remembrance. His presence also marks Rio de Janeiro as a Christian city. But ultimately this statue of Christ represents the protector of people and of the soul.
The history of Cristo Redentor
The statue was constructed during the years 1922–1931 but the idea began long before. In the 1850s a priest suggested building a Christian statue on Corcovado mountain to honour Isabel, the princess regent of Brazil. The Roman Catholic archdiocese proposed at alternative in 1921. The proposed statue would be of Christ himself and would be visible from all around the city. The idea was quickly approved and citizens rallied support.
The following year the foundations were laid and the project began. Heitor da Silva Costa was the Brazilian Engineer chosen as the designer. He submitted a sketch with the figure of Christ holding a cross in his right hand and the world in his left. This design was later amended with the help of the artist Carlos Oswald and the Frenchman, Paul Landowski.
The statue was funded privately and primarily by the church. So it took four more years before construction could begin in 1926.
Originally posted on Sage Adventures travel & wellness lifestyle blog: www.sageadventres.co.uk.
