Among the outstanding religious architectural structures, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro stands out. Otherwise, the monument is called the statue of Christ the Redeemer. This magnificent building was erected in the XX century. By its grandeur, this cultural monument will go down in history for centuries as an outstanding masterpiece of world architecture.
The statue of Christ the Savior immediately after its erection became a symbol of Rio de Janeiro. For the first time, the idea to erect a statue of Christ on Mount Corcovado came from the Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss, who was delighted with the view from the top. It was planned that the construction would be financed by Emperor Pedro, but a coup took place in the country, and the plans did not come true. Hoping that his idea would not go nowhere, Pedro Maria Boss was actively involved in the construction of a railway to the foot of the mountain from the city center. All the materials needed for the construction were then transported along this road.
In 1921, Catholic priests began to translate the idea into reality. The Monument Week festival was organized to raise funds. It was on it that money was collected for construction.
In the competition for the design of the statue, the best was the work of Heitor da Silva Costa. Jesus Christ in a majestic form was to stand over the city with outstretched hands. The figure resembles a cross and symbolizes the idea that everything on earth is in the hands of God.
According to the project, Christ was supposed to lean on a ball that personified our planet, but for greater stability, the statue was placed on a pedestal. All the details of the statue were made in France. On October 12, 1931, the monument was unveiled. Even then, the sculpture made an impression with its size. Its total height is 38 meters. The statue rises above Rio de Janeiro as a symbol of a free, reborn nation.
