Christ the Redeemer Brazil

Legendary

Constructed between 1922 and 1931, the statue sits 30 metres high on a nearby peak in Rio de Janeiro.

Photo by Brett Elliott

Nearly six million small stone tiles cover Christ the Redeemer's entire surface. Workers shipped the soapstone all the way from Sweden, then carried it up the mountain piece by piece to cover the statue in a smooth, shiny surface.

The idea for the statue started back in the 1850s, when a priest first suggested building a religious monument on Mount Corcovado. Nothing happened for decades, until the idea came back in 1921, and construction finally began the following year.

Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed the statue. French sculptor Paul Landowski created the finished artwork, shaping Christ's face and flowing robe.

Construction took nine years and finished in 1931. On October 12 of that year, the statue was switched on for the very first time, lit up by floodlights for a huge public celebration.

The statue stands 98 feet tall, with arms stretching 92 feet wide. Including its stone base, the whole structure reaches 125 feet into the sky.

Christ the Redeemer sits on top of Mount Corcovado, a mountain rising more than 2,300 feet above Rio de Janeiro. From up there, the statue looks out over the entire city with its arms spread wide.

The statue is built from reinforced concrete, giving it the strength to survive lightning strikes, storms, and nearly a century of wind and rain. In 2007, it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Ride the cogwheel train up through Tijuca National Park to reach the statue's base. Look out from the viewing platform for sweeping views of Rio de Janeiro, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Copacabana Beach far below. Visit early in the morning to beat the crowds and catch the city waking up beneath the clouds.