From Paris to Rio
The Portuguese name of the statue is Cristo Redentor, or ‘Christ the Redeemer’. The solid statue is 28 metres wide and was designed by engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski made the statue in Paris from blocks of clay that were then used in Rio to create a mould for pouring the concrete.
Hike or take the elevator
To get to the statue it is easy to take a taxi or tram to the foot of Corcovado. Fit and healthy visitors can walk the 222 steps to the top, but there is also a lift. The view is truly breathtaking with sweeping vistas of Sugarloaf, the favelas, downtown Rio and the sparkling white beaches. Now you know why Cristo was placed at this location.
A cup of coffee in the park
After a visit to Cristo Redentor, stop at the bottom of the mountain to visit the Parque Lage. The park is named after rich industrialist Henrique Lage, who at the beginning of the 20th century lived in this enormous mansion with his wife, singer Gabriela Bezanzoni. In the 1960s, the park was opened to the public. A walk through the subtropical forest in the park is a welcome relief from the crowds at the statue. For a strong cup of Brazilian coffee head to the café inside Henrique’s mansion.
