Wednesday, 24 February 2016

What is the history of Christ the Redeemer?

 What is the history of Christ the Redeemer?

The idea of placing a large Christian monument  atop Corcovado peak in Rio dates back to the 1850s, when a local Catholic priest requested funds from Princess Isabel to build one. The princess was not enthusiastic and the plan was scrapped.

In 1921, the Catholic Circle of Rio began to collect signatures and donations for a privately-funded Christian monument.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer was designed by local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and sculpted from concrete and soapstone by Paul Landowski, a Frenchman. After nine years and a cost of $250,000, the statue opened to the public on October 12, 1931.




More information about Heitor da Silva Costa

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