When you open a travel magazine or a website, the first thing you do is start looking up places with fame, reputation, popularity, maybe one of the modern wonders. I can bet some of you will be captured by the beauty of the Brazilian wonder, the enormous statue of Jesus Christ.
Well, in fact, Brazil is not the only place to find travel wonders, Lisbon also has a few to impress. Cristo Rei is a statue located in the parish of Almada, not too far away from Lisbon.
The statue was inspired by the Brazilian statue Christ the Redeemer. The Portuguese version is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ. The construction started in 1949 and lasted 10 years.
The base of the monument looks like gates and was designed by António Lino, while the statue itself was authored by Francisco Franco de Sousa (although I don’t see which part exactly was designed, and which part was inspired by Christ the Redeemer). The pedestal is 82 meter high, add another 28 meters for the statue, and we get the highest point of Almada.
If you’re not very religious and not interested in statues at the same time, I admit this site might not be very impressive to you. It’s not only the size that makes this monument so unforgettable, there are also many religious symbols and connotations. On the other hand, people with history interests must also be motivated to visit the monument. Why? The statue is a symbol for the lucky fate of Portugal avoiding the World War II. Portugal was one of the neutral countries during the war, although many say it was mostly pro-fascist.
Next thing why this monument is so impressive is the city view. You can see the River Tagus and the city of Lisbon from the observation deck. If you have a camera, then it’s also high time to shoot the best photos of the vacation. Make sure the weather is not foggy and the visibility is good. Otherwise, you will miss an awesome scene. The elevator that takes you up to the observation deck and the interior of the statue costs only €4. And it’s not only the observation deck up there.
There is also a library, 2 chapels, namely the chapels of Our Lady of Peace and of Confidants of Jesus. There is also an eating place inside (one of the best eating places to me) and two halls. Last but not the least is the souvenir shop, you will have to climb around 60 stairs to get there, but you might find some great souvenirs on display. It’s worth giving a try.
It might be a little challenging to get to the monument without a car. Trams are OK if you’re traveling from one district to another, but Cristo Rei requires little more efforts. Actually, the best way is walking alongside the river Tegus (there will be many worthwhile attractions on your way), catch a ferry to the other bank, and then walk up the hill.
As you can see, Lisbon is like an open-air museum of eye-popping statues and other attractions, Monument of Discoveries, Cristo Rei, and the city has even more up its sleeve for you.
