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The statue of Cristo Rei (Christ the King) is inspired by the more famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The cement statue was finished in 1959 as part of a church during the Salazar period of Portuguese history.

An elevator takes visitors 80 meters up to a viewing area with spectacular views of Lisbon, the River Tagus and the Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge.

The statue stands on a small hill 133 meters in height. The pedestal, made up of four columns is 82 meters in height with the Christ figure with outstretched arms 28 metres.

The monument was constructed in situ with plaster casts. Altogether 40,000 tons of concrete were used.

The Cristo Rei monument was supposedly built to give thanks for the nation having avoided the horrors of World War II, though plans for such a figure were in the planning stage, based on the statue in Rio, before the outbreak of conflict. 300,000 people attended the statue's inauguration.

The statue is illuminated at night.

Portugal participated in World War I on the side of the Allies against the Germans and suffered heavy losses on the Western Front.

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