Visiting Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer
Corcovado, which translates to the hunchback in Portuguese, is a granite mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. At its peak stands the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, inaugurated in 1931 by the Catholic Church and the Brazilian government. Corcovado has drawn visitors for nearly five centuries. As early as the 1500s, Portuguese settlers climbed the mountain to take in the views of the bay and the surrounding forests. At that time, the mountain was known as the Pinacle of the Temptation (Pinnacle of Temptation).
A panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro
Rising 704 meters from the Tijuca Forest, Corcovado towers over Rio de Janeiro and its most recognizable landmarks, such as the Sugarloaf Mountain or the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. The mountain is so popular that a road was built to reach it as early as 1824. Brazil's first tourist railway opened in 1884. This 3,824-meter track connects the Cosme Velho neighborhood to the summit of Corcovado.
The iconic Christ the Redeemer site
To mark the centenary of Brazil's independence in 1921, the Catholic Church aimed to reaffirm its role in the nation and commissioned a statue of Christ for the top of Corcovado. Following a competition, the design by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa was selected. He traveled to Europe to refine the technical aspects of the project, eventually choosing French sculptor Paul Landowski to execute the work. Construction took five years. Standing 38 meters tall, this massive statue remains one of the country's primary symbols.
Corcovado, or Christ the Redeemer, is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Perched at the top of a hill with arms wide open, it sits 710 meters above the ground, though the statue itself is only 38 meters tall. This monumental statue of Christ is one of the largest in the world. You can get up to the site on foot, by bus, or by taxi. The view is incredible, especially since you can see Sugarloaf Mountain and the entire bay of Rio de Janeiro from the observation deck.