Cristo Redentore, Colossal statue of Jesus on Mount San Biagio, Maratea, Italy
The Cristo Redentore is a colossal Jesus statue standing on Mount San Biagio in Maratea, reaching approximately 21 meters in height with an arm span of about 19 meters. The figure was constructed from reinforced concrete and then clad with white cement and Carrara marble.
Count Stefano Rivetti commissioned sculptor Bruno Innocenti to create this monument in 1965. It replaced an iron cross that had commemorated a French siege from 1806.
The statue portrays Jesus with short hair and a subtle beard, which sets it apart from other famous representations. The left leg steps forward slightly, giving the figure a sense of movement and vitality.
The statue is reachable via a winding road and parking area, where a shuttle bus then takes visitors to the mountaintop near the Basilica of San Biagio. The ascent requires no special equipment, but wearing sturdy shoes and bringing water is advisable.
Inside the statue runs a maintenance ladder through a technical shaft, allowing workers to access different sections of the roughly 400-ton monument. This hidden infrastructure reveals the complexity required to maintain such a massive work.
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