Christ the Redeemer: 12 Things Didn’t Know

Rio de Janeiro hits different. It’s a city of contrast—wild parties and peaceful mountains, beach vibes and big-city buzz, locals who make you feel like family, and landscapes that belong in a movie. But when you think of Rio, one image stands above the rest—literally. That towering figure with open arms watching over the city? That’s Christ the Redeemer, or Cristo Redentor in Portuguese. Christ the Redeemer

This legendary statue of Jesus stands 98 feet tall, arms stretching 92 feet wide, and it’s perched on a 26-foot pedestal on top of Corcovado Mountain. Seeing it in photos is one thing, but standing beneath it? That’s a spiritual experience—even if you’re not religious. Christ the Redeemer

Before you hop on a plane to Brazil (which you totally should), here are 12 wild, surprising, and downright fascinating facts about Christ the Redeemer you probably didn’t know.

1. The idea came way before the construction

Way back in the 1850s, a priest named Pedro Maria Boss suggested building a religious monument to honor Princess Isabel of Brazil. The idea fizzled… until 1921. That’s when the Catholic Church, worried about losing influence, revived the plan. Construction kicked off in 1922 and wrapped up in 1931.

2. The head and hands were made in France

Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa designed the statue, but it was an international affair. French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski shaped the head and hands in clay in France. He even sent over a 12-foot model to Brazil. Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida carved the statue’s expressive face, and French engineer Albert Caquot helped bring the whole thing together. Christ the Redeemer

3. It was paid for by everyday Brazilians

No big government handouts here. The statue cost the equivalent of $3.4 million today, and the money mostly came from local Catholic donations. Just like Carnival, the people of Rio showed up in a big way when it counted.

4. The original version looked very different

The first design had Jesus holding a cross in one hand and a globe in the other. It was approved, but eventually scrapped in favor of something more open and inviting—hello, outstretched arms. That design gave us not only a symbol of peace but the largest Art Deco statue in the world. Christ the Redeemer

5. There are hidden passageways inside

It’s not hollow for nothing. The statue has stairs and tight passageways that maintenance workers use to access the inside. They climb up 12 stories of internal steel stairs and can exit through trapdoors in the arms and head. Restoration work? Often done while hanging off the outside—tethered by ropes.

6. It’s officially one of the New Seven Wonders of the World

In 2007, more than 100 million people voted, and Christ the Redeemer made the cut alongside the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, and the Taj Mahal. Pretty elite company. It even beat out the Eiffel Tower and Stonehenge. Christ the Redeemer

7. It lives inside a national park

You’ll find the statue in Tijuca National Park, a sprawling urban rainforest and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. So when you go up Corcovado Mountain, you’re not just there for the statue—you’re getting a full-on nature experience, complete with waterfalls, exotic plants, and maybe a monkey or two.

8. Lightning hits it all the time

Christ the Redeemer gets struck by lightning 3–6 times a year on average. In 2014, a strike even broke a few fingers and chipped the head. Since then, more lightning rods have been added to its arms and head. Maintenance ain’t cheap—it costs over $1 million a year to keep the statue in good shape.

9. It gets a little darker with every restoration

The statue is covered in millions of triangular soapstone tiles, applied by hand—many by local women who even wrote messages or names on the back. But the original light-colored soapstone ran out. Now, newer repairs use darker stone, giving the statue a patchwork effect over time.

10. There’s a chapel inside

Yep, tucked inside the base is a tiny chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil’s patron saint. It opened in 2006 and is occasionally used for weddings, baptisms, and Sunday Mass. So yeah—you can actually get married inside Christ the Redeemer.

11. It’s not the biggest Jesus statue

Believe it or not, this isn’t even the tallest Jesus statue in Brazil. That title goes to Christ the Protector in Encantado, which stands about 20 feet taller. Globally, the crown goes to either Christ the King in Poland or Jesus Buntu Burake in Indonesia, depending on how you measure it.

12. There’s an elevator now (thank God)

Until 2003, you had to climb 220 steps to get to the base of the statue. Now, there’s an elevator and escalator combo that takes you the rest of the way after your scenic cogwheel train ride. So you can save your energy for soaking in those epic panoramic views of Rio and its world-famous beaches.

Final Thought

Christ the Redeemer isn’t just a tourist attraction—it’s a symbol of faith, unity, and Brazilian pride. Whether you’re spiritual or not, standing beneath those open arms with the city spread out below you is an experience that sticks.

Ready to see it in person? Yeah, you are.

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