Brazil, Encantado challenges Rio: new statue of Christ taller than Redeemer
Started in July 2019, the new Christ statue project aims to exceed the height of the famous Christ statue [...]
Started in July 2019, the project of the new Christ statue aims to surpass the height of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue that dominates Rio de Janeiro. Associação Amigos de Cristo can count on 2 million Brazilian reais (about 300 thousand euros) from donations from local companies and private citizens.
Christ Protector of Encantado, the second tallest statue in Brazil
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Encantado, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, is set to challenge Rio de Janeiro with a monumental 43-meter-tall attraction. It will surpass the famous Christ the Redeemer (38 meters high including the pedestal) and will give the country another masterpiece to be proud of. Set to be ready by the end of the year, it will be the second tallest statue in Brazil after the 56-meter-high statue of Santa Rita da Cascia located a stone's throw from Santa Cruz. The Christ of Encantado is the brainchild of Mayor Adroaldo Conzatti, who died last March due to Covid. The work is being coordinated by the Friends of Christ Association, and the structure will be created by sculptors Genesio and Markus Moura.
The exchange of jokes with the mayor of Rio
Conzatti's idea was to promote Encantado as a place of "devotion and faith." Also to give a boost to religious tourism throughout the Taquari Valley region, which includes 36 municipalities founded in the mid-19th century with the strong influence of Italian and German immigrants. Many saw the initiative almost as a "competition" with Rio's Christ the Redeemer, erected on the summit of Mount Corcovado in 1931.
Thus, an exchange of social comments between the mayors of Encantado (Jonas Calvis) and Rio (Eduardo Paes) arose. "Building statues is easy. But let's see who has this view," Paes said, providing an aerial photo showing Christ the Redeemer overlooking Guanabara Bay, along with most of the local beaches and the city of Rio de Janeiro. "No doubt. Rio de Janeiro remains pretty and the whole world knows it. But come and meet Christ, the protector of Encantado and the beauty of the Taquari Valley" replied Calvis, to whom Paes promised to attend the unveiling of the statue scheduled for late 2021.
A viewing terrace and observation deck
The present monument in Encantado will have an internal elevator that will allow visitors to reach a rooftop terrace placed at chest height. This will enable everyone to turn their gaze to a vast panorama stretching for more than 40 kilometers. Also planned is the construction of an observation deck near the top. Currently the head and arms have been laid, the latter having an opening of 36 meters. Despite the many hindrances due to Covid, the pace of construction is proceeding apace. The statue is located on Morro de las Antenas hill about 400 meters above sea level and with an impressive view of Garibaldi Bay and the city of Encantado.
Encantado is a city of 22,000 inhabitants and is located 145 kilometers northwest of the state capital Porto Alegre. The design of the statue, renamed Christ Protector, is intended to inspire faith and encourage tourism in the area. The statue will become the third tallest depiction of Jesus in the world, surpassed only by the 52-meter Christ Protector in Poland and another, currently under construction, of 77 meters in Mexico.
