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Corcovado

Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer). Arms wide open to the world

Corcovado is 2230 feet high and has the statute of the Christ Redeemer at the top. It is an excellent view of the area and when you see the Statute it is an awesome sight to behold. This is a must see for tourists visiting the Rio de Janeiro area.

More than a postcard, the statue of Christ has been elected "The Wonder of Rio" by residents. Deservedly so. From its location at the top of the 710 meters high Corcovado Mountain, the 38-meter statue is the image of the faith and friendliness of cariocas. The monument, inaugurated on the day of Our Lady of Aparecida, 12 October, of the year 1931 by then President Getulio Vargas and cardinal Dom Sebastiao Leme, has had its 70th anniversary.

Since 2000, when it was given new lighting, the statue and the accesses to it have been through a revitalizing process. The highlight was the inauguration on 20 January 2003 of the mechanized access, with panoramic elevators and escalators. Now it is no longer necessary to climb up the 220 steps to the image.

Each of the three panoramic elevators holds 14 people. The access area caters for visitors who come by car as well as for those who use the train of the Corcovado Railway. The enjoyment begins there since the 31-meter tower offers the first view of the city. Four escalators have been installed, two on each direction, complete the access to the monument. With lateral protection to avoid accidents, the escalators have special devices, such as anti-skidding aluminum on the steps, which guarantee flawless performance and total safety.

New visual communication has also taken over. The belvedere offers maps that point out major tourist landmarks such as Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon beaches and Maracana Stadium. Found on the parapet, the maps are a great help to those not accompanied by guides.

And even before reaching the statue itself, visitors can get to know a little of its history. Cosme Velho Station, completely revitalized, has become a modern and comfortable place of leisure and entertainment. A new boarding area has been built, besides tourist shops, a VIP room and an auditorium. The Cultural Space (Espaco Cultural) stands out preserving as it does the whole rich history of the Railway and the Monument.

Corcovado Train

It is impossible to imagine a visit to the city of Rio de Janeiro without a visit to the Christ the Redeemer statue. Located at the top of the Corcovado Mountain, the monument is the best well known Brazilian image around the world. Every year more than 600 thousand people are taken to the Corcovado Mountain top by the centenary Corcovado Railway, the oldest tourist spot in the country.

Corcovado