Everyone knows the iconic Statue of Christ The Redeemer with his arms outstretched overlooking the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. But that statue is not the only statue of Jesus Christ as the redeemer (not even the largest). There are a number of massive statues of Jesus in a number of catholic nations in Latin America and in Europe.

One of the more remarkable of these is the little-known Statue of Christ The Redeemer of Maratea in southern Italy. This is by no way a competition but read on to see how these two giant statues of the Catholic faith compare.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer of Maratea

This impressive statue of Jesus Christ is remarkable for how majestically it is perched on the Mount. St. Biagio (rising 640 meters). The statue is made of reinforced concrete covered with a mixture of white cement and marble from Carrara. For those wondering, Maratea is the stunning town seen in the latest James Bond movie "No Time To Die" with the romantic cave accommodation in the opening scenes of the movie.

The sculpture was created by the Florentine sculptor Bruno Innocenti and was built in 1965. The idea for a massive statue of Christ was inspired by the more famous statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Built: 1965
  • Height: 21 Meters or 66 Feet (There is no Pedestal)
  • Span: The Arms Stretch 19 Meters or 62 Feet Wide

While not as large as Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, it is still massive. Excluding the pedestal, it rises over 21 meters or 66 feet above the summit of the mountain. The head alone is 3 meters in height and the arm-span is 19 meters from fingertip to fingertip. Today it is the third tallest statue of Jesus in Europe and the sixth-largest in the world.

Today anyone can visit the massive statue and the good news is as it is less well known than the Christ the Redeemer in Brazil there are fewer crowds. But that being said in summer there is still a larger influx of tourists and access to limited if coming by car.

The parking space is limited so it may be better to take a shuttle bus from the Basilica of San Biagio to the Christ.

  • Opening Times: Open Access 24/7
  • Address: Maratea, Borgo Castello - Top of Monte San Biagio
  • Parking And Shuttle Times: From 8.00 am to 10.00 pm (Daily)
  • Season: Shuttle Service Ends October 1st
  • Cost: 5 Euro ($6) For Parking Per Hour
  • Shuttle: 1 Euro ($1.20) Round Trip, Leaves Every 5 to 8 Minutes

Related: 24 Statues More Impressive Than The Statue Of Liberty

Statue of Christ the Redeemer of Rio de Janeiro

Known in Portuguese as Cristo Redentor, this is undoubtedly the most famous statue of Jesus Christ in the world. It was created by the French sculptor Paul Landowski and but by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa with the collaboration of others.

The statue stands atop the 700 meter or 2,300-foot Mount. Corcovado in the Tijuca Forest National Park. From here the statue of Jesus gazes down onto the sprawling city of Rio de Janeiro. It has become both a symbol of Christianity and a cultural icon of Brazil. It has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone.

  • Built: Between 1922 and 1931
  • Height: 30 Meters or 98 Feet excluding the 8 Meter or 26 Foot Pedestal
  • Span: The Arms Stretch 28 Meters or 92 Feet Wide

Visiting Christ the Redeemer is one of the essential things to do for any weekend itinerary in Rio de Janeiro. In the high season, one can expect large queues of people lining up to see this spectacular sight.

If one buys the ticket on-site, take cash as the ticket as the entrance is only to be paid in cash, and cards are not accepted.

  • Adults: R$24 ($4.50) In the High Season and R$12 ($2) In The Low Season
  • Seniors: Free (Over 60 Years Old)
  • Children: Free (Under 11 Years Old)

Related: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Christ The Redeemer Statue

The Five Largest Jesus Christ Statues

There are many statues of Jesus Christ throughout the Catholic world. Of the six largest, two are called "Christ the King" and two are called "Christ the Redeemer". While the Cristo de la Concordia was the tallest when it was built, it was overtaken by Christ the King in Poland in 2010. Today the tallest is Jesus Buntu Burake in Indonesia at 40 meters or 130 feet.

Six Largest Statues of Jesus Christ By Size:

  • Jesus Buntu Burake: In Sulawesi, Indonesia - 40 Meters or 130 Feet (No Pedestal)
  • Christ The Redeemer: In Rio De Janeiro - 30 Meters or 98 Feet Excluding The Pedestal
  • Cristo de la Concordia: In Bolivia - 34.20 Metres or 112.2 Feet Excluding The Pedestal
  • Christ The King: In Swiebodzin, Poland - 36 Meters or 118 Feet (Including Crown, Excluding The Mound)
  • Cristo-Rei: In Lisbon Portugal -  28 Meters or 92 Feet (Excluding The Massive 82-Meters or 269 Foot Pedestal)
  • Christ The Redeemer: Maratea, Italy - 21.20 Meters or 66 Feet (No Pedestal)

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