Christ of Havana

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The Christ of Havana is a large sculpture representing Jesus of Nazareth in Havana, Cuba. It is the work of the Cuban sculptor Jilma Madera.

The statue was carved out of Carrara marble, the same material used for many of the monuments of the Colon Cemetery. The statue is about 20 meters (66 ft) high and sits on a 3 meter base. Its weights approximately 320 tons. The statue was built from 67 blocks of marble that brought from Italy, after being blessed by the Pope Pius XII. The figure of Christ is standing with a hand held high and the other in the chest facing the city, this work was left empty eyes to give the impression of looking at all from anywhere to be seen.

The sculpture, located in the Havana suburb of Casablanca, in the municipality of Regla, was inaugurated on La Cabaña hill on December 24, 1958. Just fifteen days after its inauguration, on January 8, 1959, Fidel Castro entered Havana during the Cuban revolution. That same day, the image was hit by lightning and the head was destroyed. It was subsequently repaired.

The sculpture is located 51 meters (167 ft) above sea level, allowing the locals to see it from many points of the city. There is a panoramic view point at the site of the sculpture.

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