Christ the Redeemer is a 38-metre Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ atop Mount Corcovado, overlooking Rio de Janeiro, with arms 28 metres wide. It is the largest Art Deco statue in the world.
Setting & geography
Christ the Redeemer stands in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at coordinates -22.95°, -43.21°. The surrounding landscape — urban, coastal, mountainous or rural — frames how the site is approached, photographed and understood. It draws pilgrims, scholars and the curious in roughly equal measure, and remains an active place of worship as well as a heritage site.
Architecture & form
As a religious landmark, Christ the Redeemer combines function and symbolism in proportions that still hold up against the eye. Its principal measurements are 38 m tall, dimensions that govern not only the experience of standing in front of the site but the way it appears in maps, photographs and the city skyline beyond. Materials, ornament and structural strategy all reflect what was available, fashionable and politically possible at the moment of building. Conservation work since has aimed to preserve the original intent while adapting to modern visitor numbers and safety standards.
Construction & history
Construction of Christ the Redeemer took place in 1922 – 1931. The work is credited to Heitor da Silva Costa & Paul Landowski. Christ the Redeemer has weathered war, weather, neglect and revival across its life. Each generation has read the site differently — sometimes as a sacred place, sometimes as a political monument, sometimes as a tourist attraction — and each reading has left its trace on what the visitor sees today.
Cultural significance
Christ the Redeemer appears on stamps, coins, school textbooks and a thousand photographs taken every day. It functions as a piece of national identity for Brazil and as a piece of shared global heritage. UNESCO, national heritage agencies and local custodians typically have overlapping interests in the site’s protection — a useful tension that keeps the place both authentic and accessible.
Plan your visit
Most visitors reach Christ the Redeemer from Rio de Janeiro by public transport, organised tour or private taxi; check official sources for current opening hours, ticket prices and seasonal closures before you travel. Best light for photography typically falls in the early morning or the hour before sunset, when crowds also tend to thin. Modest dress and respectful behaviour are expected at religious or memorial sites; many landmarks restrict tripods, drones or large bags. Allow at least two hours on site and longer if you intend to visit any associated museums or grounds.
Specifications
Sort or filter the table to find the specifics quickly.
| Field | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Brazil | — |
| Location | Rio de Janeiro | city / region |
| Type | Religious | landmark category |
| Built | 1922 – 1931 | period of construction |
| Architect | Heitor da Silva Costa & Paul Landowski | — |
| Size | 38 m tall | principal dimensions |
| Latitude | -22.9519 | degrees |
| Longitude | -43.2105 | degrees |
Did you know?
Christ the Redeemer was struck by lightning in 2014, breaking off the tip of the right thumb — the statue is hit dozens of times per year.
