Photographs and original elaborations of Photographs and original elaborations of Antonio FlorinoAntonio Florino

Automatic feed except the picture 2Automatic feed except the picture 2

The Statue of Christ Redeemer of Maratea is a work carved in Carrara marble , representing The Statue of Christ Redeemer of Maratea is a work carved in Carrara marble , representing precisely the Christ the Redeemer after the Resurrection . It was built by Count Stefano precisely the Christ the Redeemer after the Resurrection . It was built by Count Stefano Rivetti di Val Cervo , who wanted to make a gift to the whole town of Maratea. It is located on Rivetti di Val Cervo , who wanted to make a gift to the whole town of Maratea. It is located on the highest peak of Mount San Biagio and was comInthe highest peak of Mount San Biagio and was comIn  1907  , on the occasion of the centenary , on the occasion of the centenary ofof  Maratea resistance  to popular will be placed, on the cliff top of Mount San Biagio, a "cross" to popular will be placed, on the cliff top of Mount San Biagio, a "cross" wrought iron.wrought iron.  This, however, was struck by lightning every time he was raised.This, however, was struck by lightning every time he was raised.   So, inSo, in  1942  , , thethe  mayor  ofof  Maratea  Biagio Vitolo erected in place of the iron, a new and larger Biagio Vitolo erected in place of the iron, a new and larger Commemorative Cross  , reinforced concrete, complete with lightning rod.The, reinforced concrete, complete with lightning rod.The  4 September  1963  , , CountCount  Stefano Rivetti di Val Cervo  announced plans to build a colossal statue, a tribute to the announced plans to build a colossal statue, a tribute to the people of Maratea, which would replace the cross memorial Vitolo in its symbolic people of Maratea, which would replace the cross memorial Vitolo in its symbolic meaning.meaning.  The construction work was entrusted toThe construction work was entrusted to  Bruno Innocenti  , at that time professor at the , at that time professor at the Institute of Fine Arts inInstitute of Fine Arts in  Florence  , and lasted two years.Was completed in 1965 , after nearly , and lasted two years.Was completed in 1965 , after nearly two years of work .The statue rests on a skeleton of reinforced concrete, which traces its two years of work .The statue rests on a skeleton of reinforced concrete, which traces its foundations to a depth of several meters.foundations to a depth of several meters.  The outer coat, often around 20The outer coat, often around 20  cm  , is made , is made of of concrete mixed with chips ofconcrete mixed with chips of  marble from Carrara  .The size makes this.The size makes this  statue  , dedicated to the , dedicated to the genregenre  Christ  , the largest d ', the largest d '  Europe  , but worldwide only follows that of, but worldwide only follows that of  Cochabamba  ((  Bolivia  ) ) andand  Rio de Janeiro  ((  Brazil  ))  : it is high 21.13: it is high 21.13  meters  , the 'Opening of the, the 'Opening of the  arms  (which are wide (which are wide open in the attitude of one who prays theopen in the attitude of one who prays the  Our Father  ) is 19) is 19  meters  , the, the  head  is about 3 meters is about 3 meters high.high.  TheThe  weight  of the structure was calculated on the 400of the structure was calculated on the 400  tons  .The statue rests directly on .The statue rests directly on the bare ground without anythe bare ground without any  pedestal  , leaving visible from the, leaving visible from the  tunictunic  onon  footfoot  left, another left, another feature is that it is facing the sea but inland, to watch over the land and the people feature is that it is facing the sea but inland, to watch over the land and the people ofMarateaofMaratea  , but it is curved so that, when viewed from the sea or from a distance, seems to , but it is curved so that, when viewed from the sea or from a distance, seems to have turned towards the sea.have turned towards the sea.

Wile we climb to the Redeemer always admire new viewsWile we climb to the Redeemer always admire new views

The island at the bottom is the island of Dino in front of Paula, in The island at the bottom is the island of Dino in front of Paula, in practice the beginning of Calabriapractice the beginning of Calabria

You begin to see the latest ramps that lead to Christ and the You begin to see the latest ramps that lead to Christ and the Church of St. BlaiseChurch of St. Blaise

Those shuttles you see parked at the top are the ones that will take us. Those shuttles you see parked at the top are the ones that will take us. That is the point where cars must be parkedThat is the point where cars must be parked

Those are the ramps that we cover in that shuttle and more open Those are the ramps that we cover in that shuttle and more open scenic glimpsesscenic glimpses

Sono meravigliosiSono meravigliosi

We are already at the top, you see these ruins are the remains of the We are already at the top, you see these ruins are the remains of the first Marateafirst Maratea

We breathlessly forward to this gigantic sacred figure even though we are We breathlessly forward to this gigantic sacred figure even though we are just more than a hundred metersjust more than a hundred meters

Try comparing the size of the figures that are at his feetTry comparing the size of the figures that are at his feet

From the tip of the headland can be seen all over the Gulf of PolicastroFrom the tip of the headland can be seen all over the Gulf of Policastro

And the most inaccessible cornersAnd the most inaccessible corners

Come and see the port of MarateaCome and see the port of Maratea

Colors, roads and vegetation appear fakeColors, roads and vegetation appear fake

That flies under the Christ am IThat flies under the Christ am I

Is very beautiful but we are told that we must returnIs very beautiful but we are told that we must return

Of course continuing to admire the views that we are always differentOf course continuing to admire the views that we are always different

byby Aflo Afloantonio.florino@gmail.comantonio.florino@gmail.com

One last look at Christ, beyond the ancient ruins of Maratea and must One last look at Christ, beyond the ancient ruins of Maratea and must achieve the shuttle that will bring us back to our car.achieve the shuttle that will bring us back to our car.