originally, the idea was to have the statue on top of the sugar loaf mountain (pão de açúcar), at the entrance to the guanabara bay, with christ appearing to rise from the sea. however, the location wasn't set in stone, with both corcovadoand morro de santo antônio, in the center of rio, also being considered.

morro de santo antônio, was mostly leveled during the mid 20th century, and it is no longer visible - except for a small portion that was left where the convent of santo antôniostill stands.