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Christ of Havana

Christ of Havana

Jilma Madera

Photo: cuchillo emilio · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Location
Casablanca, Havana, Cuba
Client / Owner
—
Year
Completed 1958
Access
Public
Typology
Cultural
Style
—

The Christ of Havana, or Cristo de La Habana, is a marble statue of Jesus on the Hill of La Cabaña, in the Havana suburb of Casablanca. The Cuban sculptor Jilma Madera won the commission in 1953. It was inaugurated on December 24, 1958, fifteen days before Fidel Castro entered Havana.

The statue is about 66 feet (20 meters) tall, including a base of about 10 feet (3 meters), and weighs roughly 320 tons. It is built from 67 blocks of white Carrara marble brought from Italy, and the article says Pope Pius XII blessed them. A panoramic viewpoint is at the site.

The figure stands with its right hand near the chin and its left near the chest. The eyes are left empty, so the statue seems to look at everyone from anywhere. Madera said the facial features reflect Cuba's racial diversity. Locals joke that it holds an imaginary cigar and a mojito.

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