Sanctuary of Christ the King, Catholic monument in Almada, Portugal.
The Sanctuary of Christ the King rises on a hill overlooking the Tagus, a white concrete figure atop a tall portal. The arms stretch over Almada toward the capital.
Bishops pledged its erection to express thanks that Portugal was spared in the war. Work began in 1949 and ended a decade later.
The figure carries the title Christ the King after a Catholic feast established in the early twentieth century. Believers come to the chapel at the base for services and private devotion.
An elevator brings visitors to a platform in the base for a view over river and city. The site is open daily, mornings usually calmer than afternoons.
The architect had visited the statue in Brazil and used similar proportions for head and hands. The project was also meant to strengthen the importance of the southern shore beyond the traditional Lisbon core.
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