Christ the Redeemer

Nothing like a giant, 130-foot tall statue of Jesus, arms gracefully outstretched to keep a city as known for its taste for vice as Rio in line. Christ the Redeemer (who watches over us with what I think is a slightly anxious expression in his rather elegantly draping robe) stands atop Corcovado, trust me, you won’t miss him, in the Tijuca National Park. Outside he’s soapstone but inside he’s reinforced concrete, much safer for everyone (I do have dreams about him falling on the city, but that could be a sign his presence is working and suggesting I lay off the vice), especially since he’s been standing there since 1931. Underneath his great plinth is a Catholic chapel.

In 2007, Christ was voted one of the Modern 7 Wonders after a hectic media campaign from local industry, but the best story about him is the number of people who schlepped up the hill to see him unveiled, about one and a half million, trust me, you can see him pretty well from many parts of Rio and less well up close. But there is a grand view looking down so maybe they were after a Christ’s Eye View like so many tourists today. But you can climb the 220 stairs or get the elevator, if you want to get close enough to whisper in his ear. I was lucky enough to be in Rio when he got struck by lightning in February—naturally he survived intact—need I say more.