Find Redemption in Rio

• January 13, 2010
• Rated 5 of 5 by Niiko from Andújar, Spain

At risk of expounding a horrible cliché, Rio de Janeiro is very much a city of vivid contradictions - sharp cleavages between rich and poor, favelas and gated compounds, hectic city life and remarkable natural beauty, all mixed-up and poured out across the myriad bays and hillsides of this corner of south-east Brazil. Perhaps this close intermingling of the many facets of Rio life create its very individual brand of chaotic, visceral charm - however, when in the midst of the city, it can be hard to get a bit of perspective. Of course, the famed beaches offer some respite from the manic pace of the streets, but the best way to step back from the city and appreciate the scale and beauty that one loses sight of from close-range is to go upwards.

Corcovado, at some 700-odd metres, is one of the taller peaks around and amongst which Rio is built and offers some astounding views of the city and bay. The vista, though, is perhaps not the primary reason tourists ascend the slope - atop Corcovado stands Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor), the iconic statue overlooking Rio.

Completed in 1931 after a nine-year construction process, and until fairly recently the largest of its kind in the world, the statue stands at the very summit of Corcovado, along with the viewing platforms that surround and lead up to it. Situated in a national park but very much in the city, a rather more peaceful atmosphere surrounds the Redeemer, despite the considerable crowds that gather. The construction shows admirable restraint, fitting well into the leafy vegetation that would once have covered the area; although there are all the amenities one would expect of such an attraction - a restaurant, gift shops, visitor information - all of the development is of a neat, simple nature, complementing rather than detracting from the surrounding natural appeal.


~ Climbing Corcovado ~


Some thirty-plus metres tall, Cristo Redentor is visible across Rio; for visitors, the distinctive profile of Corcovado (the name meaning "hunchback") topped by the statue's outstretched arms is both a symbol of the city and a point of navigation. A public road leads most of the way up the mountain, ending a short way from the summit, where shuttle buses run the rest of the distance to the foot of the statue's steps.

For those heading up to the Cristo Redentor, one of the best ways of making the journey is by taxi. Although this may sound an expensive option, it's normally possible to negotiate a reasonable rate with the driver for a tour encompassing a number of the must-see sites in Rio, including Corcovado, Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pao de Acucar), perhaps the Santa Teresa district and some of the beaches. Expect to pay somewhere in the region of 50+ Reals for several hours of the driver's services - not astoundingly cheap as a slice of a daily budget, but good value for what you get, especially if you're fortunate enough to secure yourself a taxi driver who fancies himself a tour guide. Additionally, most drivers will charge a flat fee irrespective of the number of passengers, so what might be an expensive excursion for solo travellers becomes a much better deal if there are several in your party.

Alternatively, it's perfectly possible to walk up Corcovado, although one should be careful around the neighbourhoods near its base - there's nothing essentially unsafe about the area, but as with most others parts of Rio, it's always wise to be cautious. A train also runs up the side of the mountain, leaving from Cosme Velho station and costing around £5 up and down.


~ The Statue and the Belvedere ~


200-plus steps lead from the drop-off point to the Belvedere, the viewing platform that surrounds and extends out before the Redeemer. If this sounds a bit too much of an exertion, the elderly, infirm and downright lazy will be pleased to see a series of lifts and escalators making the journey up the last hundred metres or so of Corcovado, installed in a period of improvements made to the complex in 2003.

The view from the top is simply astounding; initially, you're not sure where to look - up at the beautifully rendered and cared-for statue, or down and out across the sprawling city and idyllic bays below. All the best-known sights of Rio are visible from the Belvedere - from left to right with the statue at your back, the Maracana football stadium, one of the largest in the world, Botafogo Bay, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Copacabana Beach and Ipanema beyond the lagoon. It's certainly worth waiting for a clear day to make the visit - the panorama seen through a cloud-free, sunlit sky really does make Rio appear the most naturally beautiful city in the world.

The statue itself, approaching its eightieth birthday, is a stunning creation. Constructed out of concrete and soapstone, the Redeemer stands thirty-eight metres tall, measures another thirty metres between the tips of each of His fingers and weighs in at over six-hundred tonnes. The detail and craft with which the statue was created is testament to a skilled sculptor (Frenchman Paul Landowski), who painted an iconic serenity upon Christ's face and sculpted a series of great pleats and folds into His robes, lending a calm, powerful sense to the piece.

~

Many attractions in many cities are dubbed "must-sees", but if ever one merited the description, it must be Christ the Redeemer. It is the combination of a stunning piece of sculpture which has become a symbol of both city and country with the lofty perspective offered by its location which makes it quite such a proposition. The statue was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, and as strongly subjective (and, as some detractors feel, fundamentally flawed) as the list may be, it's hard not to feel that they called this one perfectly right. Rio, for good and bad, is like no other major city on earth, and the view taken in by Christ the Redeemer is similarly without compare.

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Christ the Redeemer Statue

• November 2, 2009
• Rated 5 of 5 by LenR from Townsville, Australia

Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro. The statue stands 40 metres (130 ft) tall, including its 9.5 metres pedestal, and 30 metres wide. It weighs 635 tons, and is located at the peak of the 700 metres Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. It is a truly magnificent sight and the trip here, including the train ride, is my top experience in the city. At night, the statue is floodlit and is visible from almost every part of the city.

The idea for erecting a large statue atop Corcovado was first suggested in the mid 1850s, when Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss requested financing from Princess Isabel to build a large religious monument. Princess Isabel did not think much of the idea and it was completely dismissed in 1889, when Brazil became a Republic, with laws mandating the separation of church and state. The second proposal for a large landmark statue on the mountain was made in 1921 by the Catholic Circle of Rio. The group organised an event called Monument Week to attract designs, donations and collect signatures to support the building of the statue. The statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms was chosen as the winner.

After much consideration it was decided to build the structure out of reinforced concrete with an outer layer of soapstone, chosen for its enduring qualities and ease of use. Construction took nine years, from 1922 to 1931. It has been a major attraction and the symbol of Rio ever since. In 2007, Christ the Redeemer was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a list compiled by the Swiss-based The New Open World Corporation.

You can drive to the top of the mountain but the best way to get to the statue is by the Corcovado train. This was the first electrified Brazilian railroad. Inaugurated in 1884, it’s much older than the monument of Christ and was used to carry the parts of the statue to be mounted at the top of the hill. The train operates from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, with departures at every half-hour. Trip duration is around 20 minutes. The view from the train was alluring, giving us a keen anticipation of what was to come. The best views are obtained from the right side of the carriage.

The views from the top were just spectacular. The Redeemer’s gaze is directed at Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf) while slightly to the right is the great Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, Jardim Botanico and Ipanema. The statue’s left arm points to the North Zone of the city with the Maracana football stadium and the international airport clearly visible. Fortunately it was a bright sunny day and we could even see the Serra dos Orgaos mountain range in the distance.

From journal Go to Rio

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Christ Redeemer & Corcovado Mountain

• September 7, 2009
• Rated 5 of 5 by Linda Hoernke from St. George, Utah

Rio's most famous site is the Statue of Christ holding his arms wide open welcoming visitors and blessing the city of Rio. The 100 foot statue covered with mosaic soapstone stands on the hill of Corcovado, which is about 2400 feet high. There is also a small chapel at the base of the statue which is a holy pilgrimage site for Catholics. The peak of Corcovado is a granite dome with steep sides creating a vertical rocky formation. From the train terminus or the road, the foot of the statue is reached by climbing 223 steps. For those that are not up to the climb, the statue can be reached by an elevator. The original design and engineer in charge of the construction was Heitor da Silva Costa, a Brazilian. He worked with French sculptor Paul Landowski, who took almost two years working on the hands and face alone. The statue was built between 1926 and 1931 and is known worldwide. The road to the Christ Redeemer climbs the mountain and switch backs through interesting little communities. There are places to stop to take photos and to walk different short trails to view points of the Christ atop the mountain. Corcovado gets over 300,000 visitors a year, so try to get there early. From the platform on the top, the magestic views stretch as far as Copacabana, Ipanema, the Sugarloaf Mountain and several of Rios Favelas.

From journal Museums & Sites of Rio

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Excellent

• July 25, 2009
• Rated 5 of 5 by amarlisa from New Orleans, Louisiana

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Christ the Redeemer

• June 27, 2008
• Rated 5 of 5 by Valerita from Montevideo, Uruguay

My Visit to One of the Seven Wonders of the World

Our visit to the Corcovado was the highest point of our trip to Rio. We had the first glance of the statue in our way to Buzios. He was there, waiting with this arms open as if he was receiving us. We continue our way to Buzios, spent six amazing days there and then returned to Rio for a three day stay. You immediately fall in love with this city; the energy that radiates is unbelievable. What I found most interesting was the contrast that you can see everywhere: mountains, the see, a forest in the middle of the city, the favelas, luxury buildings, etc, etc.

It was Saturday, our penultimate day in Rio. We woke up very early and headed to the restaurant to have breakfast. After charging our batteries (this applies both for our camera batteries and our tummies), we decided that we had time to go to the beach and went to Ipanema. We returned to the hotel and at 11 o’clock Marcelo, the taxi driver, pick us up. There are three ways to go to the Corcovado: a taxi, a van, and the train. Our agency had arranged us a taxi and it was fine for us. Marcelo turned to be not just a taxi driver but also a tourist guide, willing to tell us the history of the city and of the monuments and buildings that call our attention on our way to the Christ.

We started going through the Tijuca National Forest when suddenly we notice a traffic jam some meters ahead of us. Ok, let’s not worried, in some minutes the traffic will be normal again, we thought. It was not. We were informed that there was a protest of taxi drivers and that there was no way we could go up. We were returning to Montevideo the next day, so that was the only chance we have to visit the Christ. With deep sadness and disappointment we started our way down when we heard on the radio that access was possible by train. So we went to Cosme Velho Station, bought the R$36 ticket and in 15 minutes we were boarding the train.

The ride through the Tijuca National Park is gorgeous; it’s the biggest urban forest in the world. And when we got to the top…the city was at our feet. We had waited for that moment for a long time, and after being there we tried to enjoy every single second, every single view. The statue is huge, much bigger than what I thought it would be. Located at the peak of the Corcovado hill, 700 meters high, the Christ stands almost 40 meters and weights 700 tons. It was made of “soap” stone by the French-Polish sculptor Paul Landowski.

The train operates from 8.30am to 6.30pm and the trip to the top lasts around 20 minutes.

From journal Rio de Janeiro, City of Contrasts

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