The 7 new wonders of the world

The 7 new wonders of the world

After visiting all of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Christ the Redeemer in Rio was clearly disappointing

Kia and I visited all of the New 7 Wonders of the World, but only Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro didn't impress us. Here we examine whether Cristo Redentor really deserves a place among the other “new” wonders of the world.

The new 7 wonders of the world

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only survivor from the original list of Seven Wonders of the World and has been given honorary status among the new entries.

controversy

The New7Wonders Foundation made headlines when it cited “the largest poll ever recorded,” claiming over 100 million votes had been cast in a global internet and telephone poll.

However, when the winners were announced in 2007, the survey was criticized as unscientific. Although online voting was limited to one vote per online identity, multiple votes could be cast by telephone.

Major campaigns were carried out in the monuments' host cities and countries. The largest (and therefore probably most successful) took place in Brazil. The major telecommunications networks in Rio de Janeiro sent SMS texts to residents saying, "Press 4916 and vote for Christ. It's free!"

Likewise, the city's subway system and television stations ran prominent campaigns and infomercials encouraging people to vote by telephone. Some estimates suggest that around 10 million Brazilians took part in the survey. That's 10% percent of the total votes cast - a disproportionate percentage considering there were 21 finalists.

alt=“Christ the Redeemer”>Some estimates suggest that 10 million Brazilians took part in the survey

In comparison, countries without a large and well-connected population or sufficient resources – be it sponsorship or government support – would not be able to run such effective campaigns.

UNESCO distanced itself from the survey, saying: "The list of the 8 new wonders of the world will be the result of a private company that reflects only the opinions of those with access to the Internet and not those of the whole world. This initiative cannot contribute in a significant and sustainable way to the preservation of the sites chosen by this public."

Our visit to Christ the Redeemer

As a tourist attraction, Christ the Redeemer is a must-see for every visitor to Rio. The views over the city are spectacular and the statue is as iconic as the Statue of Liberty in New York or the Eiffel Towel in Paris. However, like ours, your visit will likely be hectic, crowded and stressful.

We visited on a beautiful clear day in June and didn't have to wait long to go to the observation deck. A guard told us that it was the quieter time of year and that it wasn't unusual to wait three hours or more in high season!

alt="Christ the Redeemer">The statue's position above the city offers a spectacular view

We reached the observation deck and were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. Tourists jostled shoulder to shoulder as they tried to take photos of themselves crammed together like sardines. It was virtually impossible to stand still and enjoy the experience for more than a few seconds without someone pushing past.

We navigated around the statue and worked our way from the platform to the lower levels where it was a little quieter - and this was off-peak!

Overall, we were pleased to see the statue but also relieved to leave – not the best endorsement of a “miraculous” attraction!

Other contenders

From an architectural perspective, Christ the Redeemer doesn't really compete with the other wonders, all of which were built hundreds of years ago - at least!

In comparison, Christ the Redeemer was built in 1931, at a time when technology was more advanced and resources were more readily available. The challenges faced by the builders and architects of the other six miracles - as well as so many of the aspirants who missed out - were far greater than those faced by Christ the Redeemer.

The Inca city of Machu Picchu was built in the mountains amid the clouds, the ancient city of Petra was carved into the cliffs in the middle of the desert, while the Great Wall of China stretches thousands of kilometers across China's historic northern borders, built to withstand the Mongol empires. A concrete statue just doesn't seem to cut it.

alt=“Christ the Redeemer”>The Moai of Easter Island are equally iconic

There were 13 other finalists, including the Acropolis of Athens, Angkor Wat, Hagia Sophia and the Moai of Easter Island.

Kia and I visited Angkor Wat and the Moai on Easter Island and we loved both experiences. Angkor Wat is breathtaking and features several impressive structures that alone are more remarkable than Christ the Redeemer.

The Moai are just as iconic but much more impressive as they were built over 500 years ago. Furthermore, our trips to these destinations were much more eventful.

We spent three days exploring Angkor Wat and six days on Easter Island. Twenty minutes on a crowded observation deck fighting for space with other tourists really can't compare...

Visiting Christ the Redeemer: THE ESSENTIALS

What: Visit of Christ the Redeemer in Rio.

Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Choose a hostel in Copacabana. We had problems at the Rio Deal B&B, but anything with a score of eight or higher is usually sufficient.

When: Rio is great all year round. Rio's infamous Carnival takes place in February or early March and is a great time to experience the city's energy - but of course more expensive and crowded.

December sees the most rain, while temperatures rise from January to March. For gentle temperatures and fewer crowds, visit in May, June, September or October.

How: We only had two days in the city, so we booked the Big Dude Tour with Brazil Expedition, a hassle-free way to see the city. The tour visits a number of attractions including Christ the Redeemer, the Escadaria Selaron Stairs, Tijuca National Park and lunch in Santa Teresa (meal not included).

The tour includes pickup and drop-off and offers the option of being dropped off at Sugarloaf Mountain. Prices are $55 per person.

Email info@brazilexpedition.com for bookings. You can fly to Rio from most major airports worldwide. Book via skyscanner.net.

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Brazil is covered in detail in Lonely Planet Brazil.

Additional photography: Dreamstime

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