the other bank, arms wide open
In 1934, Cardinal Cerejeira visited Rio de Janeiro and came back with an idea. If Brazil had the Cristo Redentor, Portugal should have its own. The promise was fulfilled in 1959, when Cristo Rei was inaugurated at Alto do Pragal, in Almada, facing Lisboa and with its back to the Tagus.
The statue stands 28 metres tall and sits 113 metres above the river, on a pedestal that serves as a viewpoint. This is where the view makes sense: the Ponte 25 de Abril right beside you, Lisboa spreading out on the other bank, the Tagus estuary disappearing into the horizon. You take a lift up to the top of the pedestal, where an exterior gallery goes all the way around the monument.
Cristo Rei is both an active sanctuary and a visitor attraction. Masses happen every day, perpetual eucharistic adoration is ongoing, and a confessor is available morning and afternoon. Those who go up for the view get the religious experience as a bonus, or the other way around. The two uses coexist without friction.
It's in Almada but feels like Lisboa. The ferry crossing from Terreiro do Paço, with Cristo growing on the horizon, is the way to arrive that does the place justice.
what you'll find
- viewpoint 113 metres above the Tagus with views over Lisboa and the Ponte 25 de Abril
- lift up to the exterior gallery at the top of the pedestal
- active sanctuary with daily masses and perpetual eucharistic adoration
- pedestal with an exhibition on the history of the monument
- easy access by ferry from Lisboa
