Still Running Off at the Keyboard

IT has long been one of the most romantic and photographed spots on the planet. Now the Brazilian Catholic Church is to allowing couples to get married under the outstretched arms of the Christ Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
To mark the statue's 75th anniversary yesterday, Archbishop of Rio Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid consecrated the small Nossa Senhora Aparecida chapel under the 37m statue, opening the way for it to hold religious ceremonies such as baptisms and weddings.

The art deco-style Cristo Redentor sits on the granite mountain of Corcovado and is a world-recognised symbol of Rio, attracting hordes of tourists each year.

Now church authorities want to make it a place of pilgrimage as well. "We want Corcovado to become a sacred place, and not just a spot to view the beauties of Rio," said Cardinal Scheid, announcing the move.

The location offers an unbeatable backdrop for wedding pictures. From the viewing platform at the foot of the statue there is a panoramic view of what locals have nicknamed A Cidade Maravilhosa (the Marvellous City), an improbable mixture of urban metropolis, granite peaks and islands, rainforest and a string of bays and beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema.

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