Restoration of Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue begins for 90th anniversary

Restoration work has begun on Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado mountain, marking its 90th anniversary. Inaugurated on October 12, 1931, the monument was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Before the pandemic closed access from March to August 2020—its longest closure ever—the statue attracted about two million tourists annually. The conservative restoration, led by architect Cristina Ventura, will preserve the external appearance while addressing wear from weather and temperature fluctuations. The team will analyze the mosaic surface, iron reinforcement, and moisture infiltrations, with climbers using high-precision photography to locate damaged areas. Designed by French sculptor Paul Landowski based on a drawing by Florentine-born artist Carlos Oswald, the Art Deco statue is made of concrete and soapstone, stands 38 meters tall (including an 8-meter base), and sits over 700 meters above sea level. Its surface is covered with thousands of hand-cut triangular mosaic tiles. The Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro initiated the project in 1921 through a competition, with funds raised under the supervision of Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. At the inauguration, the lighting signal was sent from the Coltano radio station in Pisa by Guglielmo Marconi, commemorated by a plaque from the Italian community. The restoration will continue throughout the year.