Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Morro do Corcovado &
Cristo Redentor
h
The 2,316-ft (706-m) Corcovado
mountain derives its name from
corcova
(hunchback), which describes the
physical appearance of the mountain
itself. On the summit, the iconic Cristo
Redentor statue towers over Rio, and is
Brazil's most recognizable landmark. It
was officially inaugurated in 1931 to
mark the centenary of Brazil's
independence. The enormous statue sits
in the center of the gorgeous tropical jungle of
Parque Nacional da Tijuca.
Cog train
logo
Making the Head
Work on the statue began in
Paris in 1926, with French
sculptor Paul Landowski work-
ing on the head and hands.
The head alone weighs 30 tons.
THE STATUE
Having been shipped from France to
Brazil, the 98-ft (30-m) statue was faced in
limestone and hauled up the mountain by
rail to be assembled and attached to
supporting pillars.
Wide Open Arms
The entire Rio City
is embraced by
Christ, and the
statue's open arms are
seen as a testament to the
warmth of the Brazilians.
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The chapel
at
the base of
the statue can
accommodate
150 people.
Famous Visitors
Pope John Paul II, Pope Pius
XII, and Albert Einstein are
some of the famous people to
have visited Corcovado.
Escalators
link the
base to the train
station and car park.
The pedestal
,
on which the
statue stands, is
26 ft (8 m) high.
STAR FEATURES
.
Museu Internacional
de Arte Naïf
.
Stunning Views
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp366-9 and pp394-6
