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Just outside Madrid, the design and construction of a statue has begun that, once completed, will overshadow one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The mammoth statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro (30 meters high) will face competition from an even larger Christ figure of 37 meters. With an arm span of 60 meters, the colossus in Boadilla del Monte is set to become a landmark visible from far and wide.
The ambitious project is expected to cost around 12 million euros. The torso and head will be made of reinforced concrete. The material for the outstretched arms will be carbon fiber. A very special part of the statue will be a 2.5-meter-wide “heart” that moves. At sunrise, the heart will descend to the ground so that visitors can see it. At sunset, it will return to its original place.
That this project is being carried out will not surprise anyone who knows Spain a little. Religion runs like a common thread through daily life in the form of numerous local and national religious festivals, pilgrimages, and processions. In addition, the country is already known for several large statues of Christ, such as the one in Monteagudo in the province of Murcia (14 meters) or in Palencia (21 meters).
An even more ambitious plan to promote Spain internationally comes from the Spanish Academy of Bullfighting. They are looking for a location where their 300-meter-high metal bull can be built. The creation is intended to become a new national symbol and a magnet to further boost tourism. Without false modesty, the Academy sees their "Bull of Spain" statue as a potential tourist attraction that could rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in the United States. Inside the statue, panoramic viewpoints are planned in the horns. On the ground floor, shops, restaurants, and exhibition spaces are envisioned. Whether and where the project will go ahead is still uncertain. But Spain’s ambitions cannot be doubted.
PS. The illustrations are artistic impressions
