Bolivia is home to the world's second-largest statue of Jesus Christ, the Cristo de la Concordia, or Christ of Peace. The statue stands at 33.44 metres tall, with a total height of 39.68 metres when its pedestal is included. It is located in the city of Cochabamba, towering 869 feet above the city and 2,840.00 metres above sea level. The statue was designed by César and Wálter Terrazas Pardo and constructed from 1987 to 1994.
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Cristo de la Concordia, Cochabamba
Cristo de la Concordia, or Christ of Peace, is a statue of Jesus Christ that stands atop San Pedro Hill, to the east of Cochabamba in Bolivia. The statue is 33.44 metres (109.7 ft) tall, with a 6.24-metre (20.5 ft) pedestal, bringing its total height to 39.68 metres (130.2 ft). It is the second largest statue of Jesus Christ in the world, after Christ the King in Świebodzin, Poland.
The statue was designed by César and Wálter Terrazas Pardo and built entirely of cement and concrete. Construction began on 12 July 1987 and was completed on 20 November 1994. The statue was modelled after Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was intended to be exactly 33 metres (108 ft) tall, with one metre representing each year of Christ's life. However, an extra 44 centimetres (17 inches) was added to the top of Christ's head to accommodate his hair, making the statue slightly taller than its counterpart in Rio. Locals from Cochabamba joke that this accounts for Christ living "a little past" his 33rd year.
The statue is an impressive sight, standing 265 metres (869 ft) above the city of Cochabamba and rising to a total of 2,840.00 metres (9,317.59 ft) above sea level. It weighs approximately 2,200 tonnes (2,200,000 kg), with the head alone weighing 11,850 kilograms (26,120 lb). The arms of the statue span 32.87 metres (107.8 ft), and inside, 1,399 stairs lead to a viewing area. Visitors can only make the ascent on Sundays.
There are several ways to access the statue. The most common is by cable car, which offers a lift to the top for a small fee. Alternatively, visitors can take a taxi or walk up the path of over 1,200 stairs. The view from the statue is well worth the trip, providing a breathtaking perspective of the city of Cochabamba and the surrounding area.
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Inspired by Pope John Paul II's visit
The statue Cristo de la Concordia (Christ of Peace) in Bolivia was inspired by Pope John Paul II's visit. Construction of the statue began on 12 July 1987, shortly after Pope John Paul II's visit to Bolivia in 1985. The statue was completed on 20 November 1994 and was designed by César and Wálter Terrazas Pardo. It is made entirely of cement and concrete and is located atop San Pedro Hill, to the east of Cochabamba, Bolivia. The statue is accessible by cable car or by climbing 1,200 to 1,399 steps.
Standing at 33.44 metres (109.7 ft) tall, with a pedestal of 6.24 metres (20.5 ft), the total height of the statue is 39.68 metres (130.2 ft). The head of the statue is 4.64 metres (15.2 ft) tall and weighs 11,850 kilograms (26,120 lb). The arms span 32.87 metres (107.8 ft) and the statue has a surface area of 2,400 square metres (25,833 sq. ft.). The statue is slightly smaller than Christ the King in Świebodzin, Poland, but taller than Christ the Redeemer outside Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The statue was modelled after the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, with the architects of both statues suggesting that one metre was allotted for each year of Christ's life. However, an extra 44 centimetres (17 inches) was added to the height of the Cristo de la Concordia statue to represent Christ's "well-coiffed" hair, with locals saying that this accounts for Christ living "a little past" his 33rd year.
The statue offers beautiful views of the city of Cochabamba and visitors can enter a viewing area inside the arms of the statue on Sundays. The statue has become a popular attraction, with many visitors taking the cable car or climbing the steps to admire the views and the statue itself.
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Taller than Christ the Redeemer
Bolivia is home to the Cristo de la Concordia statue, which is taller than Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue. The Christ of Peace, as it is also known, is located atop San Pedro Hill, to the east of Cochabamba, Bolivia. It was designed by César and Wálter Terrazas Pardo and built entirely of cement and concrete. Construction of the statue began on July 12, 1987, and was completed on November 20, 1994. It stands at 33.44 metres (109.7 ft) tall, with a 6.24-metre (20.5 ft) pedestal, bringing its total height to 39.68 metres (130.2 ft).
The statue was modelled after the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Bolivian statue was initially planned to be 33 metres tall, with one metre representing each year of Jesus Christ's life. However, an extra 44 centimetres were added to the top of Christ's head to make it taller than the statue in Rio. Locals from Cochabamba say this extra height accounts for Christ living "a little past" his 33rd year.
The Cristo de la Concordia statue is accessible by cable car or by climbing 2,000 steps. It offers stunning views of the city of Cochabamba, as it stands 265 metres (869 feet) above the city and rises to a height of 2,840 metres (9,317.59 feet) above sea level. The statue is the second-largest statue of Jesus Christ in the world and is slightly shorter than the Christ the King statue in Świebodzin, Poland.
The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, on the other hand, stands at 30 metres (98 feet) tall, excluding its 8-metre (26-foot) pedestal. It was constructed between 1922 and 1931 and is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone. The statue is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,300-foot) Corcovado Mountain in Tijuca National Park, overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. It has become a cultural icon of both the city and Brazil and was voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
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Designed by César and Wálter Terrazas Pardo
The statue Cristo de la Concordia (Christ of Peace) is located atop San Pedro Hill, to the east of Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is accessible by cable car or by climbing 2,000 steps. The statue is 33.44 metres (109.7 ft) tall, with a 6.24-metre (20.5 ft) pedestal, bringing its total height to 39.68 metres (130.2 ft). It was designed by César and Wálter Terrazas Pardo and constructed from 1987 to 1994. The statue is made entirely of cement and concrete and is modelled after the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
César and Wálter Terrazas Pardo aimed to make Cristo de la Concordia slightly taller than the statue in Rio de Janeiro, which stands at 30 metres (98 ft) tall. They initially planned for the statue to be exactly 33 metres (108 ft) tall, with one metre representing each year of Jesus Christ's life. However, they added an extra 44 centimetres (17 inches) to the statue's hair, bringing its height to 33.44 metres (109.7 ft). This decision was based on the belief that Jesus lived "a little past" his 33rd year. With this additional height, the statue surpassed the height of Christ the Redeemer and became the largest statue of Jesus Christ in the world upon its completion.
The statue's head is 4.64 metres (15.2 ft) tall and weighs 11,850 kilograms (26,120 lb). Its arms span 32.87 metres (107.8 ft), and it has a surface area of 2,400 square metres (25,833 sq ft). The statue weighs approximately 2,200 tonnes (2,200,000 kg) in total. Visitors can climb 1,399 stairs to a viewing area inside the statue's arms, but this is only permitted on Sundays.
Cristo de la Concordia is the second-largest statue of Jesus Christ in the world, after the statue in Świebodzin, Poland. It is also the third-largest statue in the Southern Hemisphere, after the statue of Virgen de la Paz in Venezuela and the statue of Saint Rita of Cascia in Brazil. The statue stands 265 metres (869 ft) above the city of Cochabamba and rises 2,840.00 metres (9,317.59 ft) above sea level. The left hand of the statue points south, while the right hand points north.
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Accessible by cable car or climbing 2,000 steps
The statue of Cristo de la Concordia (Christ of Peace) is located on San Pedro Hill, to the east of Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is accessible either by cable car or by climbing 2,000 steps. The statue is 33.44 metres (109.7 ft) tall, with a 6.24-metre (20.5 ft) pedestal, bringing its total height to 39.68 metres (130.2 ft). It was designed by César and Wálter Terrazas Pardo and constructed from cement and concrete. The statue is modelled after Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, standing at 265 metres (869 ft) above the city of Cochabamba and rising to a total of 2,840.00 metres (9,317.59 ft) above sea level.
The construction of Cristo de la Concordia began on July 12, 1987, and was completed on November 20, 1994. Upon its completion, it became the largest statue of Jesus Christ in the world, surpassing the statue in Rio de Janeiro. It weighs approximately 2,200 tonnes (2,200,000 kg), with a head that is 4.64 metres (15.2 ft) tall and weighs 11,850 kilograms (26,120 lb). The arms span 32.87 metres (107.8 ft), and the statue has a surface area of 2,400 square metres (25,833 sq. ft.).
The cable car, or "teleférico", is a popular way to reach the statue, offering a lift to the top for a nominal fee. It usually operates from 10 a.m., with a round-trip ticket costing 15 Bolivianos. On Sundays, it starts running at 9 a.m. However, it is important to note that the cable car is not open on Mondays and is frequently closed for repairs. Alternatively, visitors can opt to climb the 1,200 to 1,399 steps leading to the statue's base and the viewing area inside the arms. These steps run under the cable car route and provide access to the statue's outstretched arms and the inner sanctum of its head, which serve as viewing platforms offering breathtaking views of the city below.
The statue of Cristo de la Concordia is an impressive structure that dominates the skyline of Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is a popular attraction for visitors, offering not only great city views but also a chance to experience the religious significance and architectural grandeur of this colossal statue.
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Frequently asked questions
The statue of Cristo de la Concordia (Christ of Peace) is located in Bolivia.
The statue is located atop San Pedro Hill, to the east of Cochabamba, Bolivia.
The statue is 33.44 metres (109.7 ft) tall, with a pedestal of 6.24 metres (20.5 ft), for a total height of 39.68 metres (130.2 ft).
The construction of the statue began on 12 July 1987 and was completed on 20 November 1994.