http://www.kuriositas.com/2013/02/the-tallest-statues-of-jesus-christ-in.html Christ the Redeemer – Brazil Height: 30.1 meters (99 feet) Pedestal: 6 meters(20 feet) Perhaps the most famous statue of Jesus in the world, Cristo Redentor in Portuguese comes in at number 4 on the list of the tallest statues of Jesus. It is also the oldest of the statues on the list, built between 1926 and 1931 and has been the inspiration for a number of the others you can see here. Although the idea for a giant statue above the city had first been suggested in the mid-1850s it was not until 1921 that the idea really took hold and a public subscription for its construction was offered. In 2010 the statue’s fingers, head and eyebrows were damaged by lightning which led to somewhat hurried restoration work on the lightning rods within the structure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_(statue) The idea of erecting a large statue atop Corcovado mountain was first suggested in the mid-1850s, when Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss requested financing from Princess Isabel to build a large religious monument. Princess Isabel did not think much of the idea and it was dismissed in 1889, when Brazil became a republic with laws mandating the separation of church and state. The second proposal for a landmark statue on the mountain was made in 1920 by the Catholic Circle of Rio. The group organized an event called Semana do Monumento ("Monument Week") to attract donations and collect signatures to support the building of the statue. The donations came mostly from Brazilian Catholics. The designs considered for the "Statue of the Christ" included a representation of the Christian cross, a statue of Jesus with a globe in his hands, and a pedestal symbolizing the world. The statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms, a symbol of peace, was chosen. Local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed the statue; it was sculpted by Polish-French sculptor Paul Landowski. A group of engineers and technicians studied Landowski's submissions and the decision was made to build the structure out of reinforced concrete (designed by Albert Caquot) instead of steel, more suitable for the cross-shaped statue. The outer layers are soapstone, chosen for its enduring qualities and ease of use. Construction took nine years, from 1922 to 1931 and cost the equivalent of US$250,000 ($3,200,000 in 2013). The monument was opened on October 12, 1931. The statue was meant to be lit by a battery of floodlights triggered remotely by shortwave radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi, stationed 5,700 miles (9,200 km) away in Rome, but poor weather affected the signal and it had to be lit by workers in Rio. In October 2006, on the statue's 75th anniversary, Archbishop of Rio Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid consecrated a chapel (named after the patron saint of Brazil, Nossa Senhora Aparecida, or "Our Lady of the Apparition,") under the statue. This allows Catholics to hold baptisms and weddings there. The statue was struck by lightning during a violent electrical storm on Sunday, February 10, 2008 and suffered some damage on the fingers, head and eyebrows. A restoration effort was put in place by the Rio de Janeiro state government and archdiocese to replace some of the outer soapstone layers and repair the lightning rods installed on the statue. On April 15, 2010 graffiti was sprayed on the statue's head and right arm. Mayor Eduardo Paes called the act "a crime against the nation" and vowed to jail the vandals, even offering a reward of R$ 10,000 for any information that might lead to an arrest. The Military Police eventually identified house painter Paulo Souza dos Santos as the suspect of the act of vandalism. http://www.copacabana.info/Christ-the-Redeemer-history.html HISTORY AND PICTURES OF THE CONSTRUCTION http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/04/christ-the-redeemer-statue-1-of-7-new-wonders-of-the-world-45-inspiring-pics/ GREAT PICTURE GALLERY -------------------- http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303506-d554128-Reviews-Cristo_Redentor_Christ_the_Redeemer-Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html It is of great importance to go there early to avoid queues and disappointment. For the tram, they have limited tickets per session so for example, if you arrive at 10 am, it is possible that you can only purchase tickets for the tram stipulated to leave only at 2pm. Alternatively, you can take a minibus which has frequent services that'll bring you to the official entrance of the park for R$25 a person. The entrance to the park will cost R$32 and the queue to purchase the park tickets and to enter the park are both extremely long. However, the view makes it worth the wait. Soak the atmosphere and enjoy the views or visit the the chapel and the bottom of the monument. --------------------- http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303506-d554128-Reviews-Cristo_Redentor_Christ_the_Redeemer-Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html#photos Tourists' photos ============== http://www.softschools.com/facts/wonders_of_the_world/christ_the_redeemer_facts/76/ Facts & data In 2003 there were escalators, elevators and walkways installed. These made it possible to access the platform that surrounds Christ the Redeemer. ================= http://www.airpano.ru/files/Christ-the-Redeemer/2-2 Interactive 360 degree panoramas (note the options on the right side) (wait for 100% image clarity) ================== http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303506-d554128-Reviews-Cristo_Redentor_Christ_the_Redeemer-Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html#photos