Everyone knows the symbol of Rio de Janeiro and all of Brazil - the monument to Christ the Redeemer. However, there is also a statue of Christ in Lisbon, Portugal. About this attraction, the history of its appearance and unusual facts will be discussed in this article.
History of Appearance
The statue of Christ in Lisbon is directly related to the statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro. The fact is that when, in January 1500, the Portuguese discoverers sailed to the coast of Brazil, once in the bay, they mistook it for the mouth of a large river. In this regard, they called this region the "January River", which in Portuguese sounds like Rio de Janeiro. Since the discovery of this place, Brazil has become a Portuguese colony.
In 1822, Brazil gained independence from Portugal, and in honor of this it was decided to build a statue of Christ on Mount Corcovada. However, due to the constraint on funds and the complexity of the area, construction dragged on for more than a hundred years. Nevertheless, the monument was unveiled in 1931.
Relations between Portugal and Brazil were not interrupted evenafter independence, the latter, but still were strained. The Brazilians and the Portuguese had a lot in common - language and faith, but there was no single, unifying spiritual symbol. This was one of the reasons why the Portuguese clergy decided to erect a statue of Christ in Lisbon.
Building a statue
This statue has become not only a spiritual symbol of friendship between Brazil and Portugal. The clergy invested another meaning in this monument - a sacred symbol of maintaining peace and preventing Portugal from entering the Second World War. A nationwide fundraiser was announced for the construction of the monument. The statue of Christ in Lisbon was modeled after the one in Rio de Janeiro.
After the end of the Second World War (in which, by the way, Portugal remained neutral) in 1949, the construction of the monument began. In 1959, the construction of the statue was completed with the funds raised by the people. The monument did not exceed the size of the Brazilian prototype, but still amazed everyone with its beauty.
Description of the monument
The statue of Christ, in Portuguese - Cristo Rey, reaches a height of 28 meters, and in Rio it is two meters higher. However, the entire monument in Portugal is much taller than in Brazil, and all because of the pedestal. The statue of Christ in Lisbon has a total height, together with a pedestal, of as much as 113 meters from the level of the Tagus River, which flows almost at the foot of the monument. Whereas in Brazil the total height of the monument is 38 meters.
Also the Lisbon monument is differentand architectural style. For example, the drapery of the Savior's clothes is not as elegant as in Rio. Otherwise, the statues are very similar - this is Jesus Christ with outstretched arms, as if addressing the world. It is believed that with this gesture the Savior gives his blessing to Lisbon, and with it the whole of Portugal.
The top of the pedestal is crowned with a large observation deck, which is accessed by an elevator. From here, you will have breathtaking views of the city. The statue itself and its observation deck are very popular not only among numerous tourists, but also among local residents.
Christ Statue in Lisbon and San Francisco Bridge
The banks of the river, near which the statue of Christ stands, are connected by a beautiful bridge "April 25". It was built in 1966, and upon completion, it was given a name in honor of the Portuguese Prime Minister António Salazar. An interesting fact is that according to polls conducted in Portugal in 2007, he was recognized as the greatest citizen of the country in its entire history. However, in 1974, the bridge was renamed in honor of the date of the military coup (April 25), called the "Red Carnation Revolution", which took place without bloodshed.
The bridge is about 2,300 meters long and has a span of 70 meters above the water. Structurally, this is a suspension bridge, in its type and color it is very similar to the Golden Gate Bridge, which is located in San Francisco (USA). It is for this similarity that the April 25 Bridge is nicknamed the San Francisco Bridge.
It has rail and road connections and is massively operated by carriers. Traveling over the bridge towards Lisbon is paid, and it costs nothing from the city. The bridge, like the statue of Christ, has also become one of the city's landmarks.
How to get to the statue of Christ in Lisbon
You can get to the statue of the Savior by land and water transport. The most common way is by bus line 101 towards Cacilhas, which will take you directly to the statue. One of the favorite ways for tourists to get to the statue is by ferry from the river station Cais do Sodro to Cacilhas pier, according to the ferry timetable. Then take the skytrain to the Almada stop, and then walk to the statue of Christ.
Address of the statue of Christ in Lisbon: Av. Cristo Rei 27A. But if you want to see this amazing monument, you don't need to know the exact address, because every resident will tell you how to get here. You can also take a taxi to the monument, but keep in mind that the cost of the trip will also include the fare on the April 25 bridge. This amount will be 1.75 euros.
Magnificent panorama
Having figured out how to get to the statue of Christ in Lisbon, you can choose the way that suits you best and hit the road. This monument is rightfully considered one of the most famous and main attractions of Lisbon. You can not only see this majestic statue, which impresses with its size, but also take the elevator to a special observation deck. The cost of lifting is fiveeuro, the elevator is open from 9-30 to 19-00. From here you will have access to the magnificent panorama of Lisbon, which fascinates with its beauty.
When you arrive in Lisbon and see its many sights, be sure to go to the statue of Christ. In addition to its majestic beauty, this place has an extraordinary energy that every person who comes here feels.
