In Brazil, a new statue of Christ will surpass the one in Rio

 Sylvie Claire / April 10, 2021

A small town in southern Brazil is building a giant new statue of Christ that will surpass the size of the famous Christ overlooking Rio de Janeiro from Corcovado Hill.

The construction of the statue, whose arms and legs were installed this week, began in 2019 in Encantado (22,000 inhabitants), located 144 km from Porto Alegre in the state of Rio Grande del Sur. The work should be completed by the end of the year, according to the Association of Friends of Christ, which is coordinating its realization.

It is certainly a day of celebration, of devotion, Gilson Conzatti, advisor to the project and son of the initiator of the project, Adroaldo Conzatti, ex-mayor of the city who died in March of complications related to Covid-19, was pleased on social networks

The statue of Christ the Protector of Encantado will be 43 meters high, including the pedestal, making it the third highest statue of its kind in the world. Thirty-six meters separate one hand from the other. The monument will be equipped with an interior elevator and topped by a belvedere

The Christ the Redeemer of Corcovado, an icon of Brazil, is 38 meters high including the pedestal and was inaugurated in October 1931

The new statue, installed on a hill named Cerro de las Antenas, was designed by an Encantado priest to  transmit the faith of the people of Encantado and promote tourism in the area

The realization was entrusted to the sculptors Genesio and Markus Moura, father and son. The project represents two million reals (about 295,000 euros), financed by donations and without public money, according to the Association of Friends of Christ.

On its website, the association composed of volunteers continues the campaign to collect donations and offers to win a vehicle by drawing lots to encourage them