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 earliest idea for a grand catholic monument in the city can be traced back to 1859, at the court of  princess isabel - however, it wasn't until after the first world war that a statue of christ was re-proposed by a religious group that saw the world in need of more spirituality, and saw the statue as the perfect genesis for this movement.