The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, considered one of
the seven new wonders of the world which receives annually 1.8 million
visitors annually starting this week will undergo a facelift, according
to Brazilian Catholic church sources.
Renovations of the 40 meters high statue on the summit of the
Corcovado hill (700 meters above sea level), an iconic sight in the
heart of Rio do Janeiro will cost 3.8 million US dollars and take until
June to complete.
The statue will still be accessible during the works, although it
will be shrouded in transparent safety sheeting to prevent injuries
from falling objects. Workers will repair the mosaic on its pedestal
clean humidity stains and remove scratches on the 78-year-old (1931)
monument. The porous stone of which the monument is built is vulnerable
to modern pollution.
Last month the Brazilian Catholic Church launched a charity campaign
to finance the facelift which will also receive support from private
companies involved in the works.
Rio will be hosting the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016
and officials are expecting a surge in visitors to the Christ Redeemer
statue. The Rio archdioceses and the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism
completed emergency repairs in 2009 totaling almost a million US
dollars.