English
National Sanctuary of Cristo Rey is a famous monument of Almada in the region of Lisbon in Portugal, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The religious catholic sanctuary was inspired in the the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro in Brasil, which is known worldwide, in 1959.
At the same time, and because of jealousy, the authoritarian President of Portugal ordered the building of the monument that we can see today in Lisbon and that is very similar to the one in Brazil.
At the feet of the River Rajo, with Lisbon on the opposite shore, it´s found in front of the church of Pragal. Designed by Antonio Lino, the national monument has the shape of an open door, where on the upper part, 82 metres in the air, the statue of Christ designed by the artist Francisco Franco de Sousa rises. The Cristo Rey has another 28 metres in height, which makes it a more than important sculpture as well as imposing.
You can go up on the monument and from there observe the whole of the coast of Lisbon, the river and the city. For tourists it´s a must because it offers a unique and ideal view to enjoy the sunset.
Find Lisbon accommodation if you want to see the National Sanctuary of Cristo Rey and see the city from a beautiful, panoramic view, at the feet of the great statue of Jesus.
