The story behind the Christ the Redeemer statue

we are taking you back down to Brazil ahead of the birds Friday night game today our team traveled to the seaside city of Rio De Janeiro a popular spot for tourists including many loyal Eagles fans action news anchor Brian Taff is live with more on what makes the city so special hi Brian hey there shie as I stand on sand that's the stuff of Legends we are live tonight on Copa Cabana Beach that world famous beach in the of Rio De Janeiro and though night has fallen a few minutes ago we wanted to make sure that you got to experience what makes this place so special so we flew drone 6 minutes ago take a look at this sugary soft sand bordered on one side by waves incredible waves that lure Surfers from around the world and bordered on the other side by the vibrancy of downtown Rio the shopping district bringing out Shoppers people who live here people who are visiting it's just full of life and vibrancy but it is not just this beach or the shopping that brings Eagles fans to this town today as tourists now though you can't see it under cover of Darkness a massive statue far more famous than this beach stands guard over the city and looms large in its Hearts the chrry the Redeemer statue it's got an incredible story and it has a profound impact and today we got to experience that first hand incredibly Steep and windy this this road as winding as any we've ever driven so steep in fact we had to change Vehicles halfway up but it was very much a journey well worth it and there it is there at the top an icon not just of the Rio Skyline but of the faith at the foundation of this city this statue inspiring awe in those who came from Philadelphia today to see it it's almost like Jesus is looking right at me it's a true blessing to be here just amazing you know I look at this and just like think of how they built it but the story of why they built it perched here on cavado mountain is one largely unknown today a testament to humility of the highest order in 1888 princess Isabel signed what's now called The Golden Law just 18 words that abolished slavery in this country she did it while her father the emperor was out of Brazil leaving her briefly in charge the result she was lauded as Brazil's redemp having saved so many from a life of enslavement and so began a movement to honor her with a statue a devout Catholic she declined demanding any Monument not give glory to her but instead give glory to the mercy of God nearly 2 million people a year visit this Monument that rises almost 2,800 ft above the city Below in fact there's so much Global curiosity about it that in 2007 this was named one of the new seven wonders of the world and when you're here it's not hard to understand why it has been surreal to just be here the aura of the statue especially the statue stands 98 ft tall not including the 26t pedestal on which it stands the arms of Christ outstretched as a gesture of welcoming reached 92 ft from finger to finger it's the largest Art Deco statue in the world in fact the largest ever built today a moment those who came to see a football game will take back home as a cherished memory I mean to come to Brazil and not see rera to not see Christ the Redeemer would have been a sin you know we were so moved by the profound reaction that so many had when they saw that statue for the first time today we admittedly had a similar reaction ourselves it's so powerful even on a foggy morning in Rio de Janeiro just one of the many experiences that Eagles fans are having in this incredible country Brazil that's been on a bucket list for so many for so long an experience they'll be talking about well after this trip ends and now thanks to television one you can say you had a little bit in as well we are live in Rio de Janeiro tonight Brian Taff Channel 6 Action News sh back to you yeah the images there absolutely stunning so glad to see your video from there for sure okay Brian thanks