christ the redeemer, or cristo redentor, is by far the most recognized rio de janeiro's landmark around the world. the christ, overlooks rio de janeiro from the peak of the corcovado mountain, on the edge of the tijuca forest.   standing at 30 meters tall, from head to toe, the statue is a commanding presence and an iconic fixture of the city's landscape.

the statue is an imposing symbol of christianity, and thousands of devout followers journey from all over the world witness the phenomenon each year.  in 2007 the statue was officially recognized as one of the seven modern wonders of the world - the first person to propose the construction of a religious monument in the city was the priest pedro maria boss, who asked princess isabel, 'the redemptress', to finance the project in the 1850s. however, funding was not secured until 1920, years after the establishment of the republic. the monument was finally opened to the public on 12th october 1931.