Cristo Rei

From where you're standing on the quay beside the MAAT museum, that red bridge stretching across the Tagus might be drawing most of your attention. But look carefully beyond it, and you'll notice a tall white figure rising above the southern bank. That is Cristo Rei, the Sanctuary of Christ the King, and its story is one of faith, gratitude, and an unexpected moment of inspiration above the skies of Brazil. In October 1934, Cardinal Cerejeira of Lisbon was flying over Rio de Janeiro on his way back from Argentina when he looked down and saw the famous Christ the Redeemer statue on the Corcovado mountain.

In that moment, the idea was born to build something similar back home, facing Lisbon across the water. When World War Two broke out in 1939, Portugal stayed neutral, and the country's bishops made a solemn vow: if Portugal was spared from the war, they would erect a monument to Christ above the city. Portugal did remain at peace, and construction eventually began. Around 40,000 tonnes of concrete went into building it, and the figure was sculpted entirely by hand, more than a hundred metres above the ground. On May 17, 1959, with roughly 300,000 people gathered below, the monument was inaugurated. Cardinal Cerejeira called it a permanent sign of national gratitude for the gift of peace.