Of Whom Is The Statue Atop The Hill In Rio De Janeiro?

The city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is especially famous for the statue of Jesus Christ known as Christ the Redeemer or Cristo Redentor in Portuguese; the statue is 125 feet tall (38 m) situated atop Corcovado Mountain. The statue depicts Christ standing with his arms spread out in a welcoming gesture; it represents the redemptive aspect of Christ as the savior of humanity and also is a symbol of the hospitable attitude of the people of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil in general.

Construction work on the statue started in 1921-22 and the statue was inaugurated on October 12, 1931 by the President of Brazil Getulio Vargas; the statue was designed by the famous architect Paul Landowsky. Many famous personalities have visited the site; Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul II have visited the site as also Albert Einstein the world famous physicist. The site is a popular tourist destination located with the Tijuca Forest national park and is known for its mountaineering trails.