Cristo Rei and the concrete cross above the Tagus
Published on 08/15/2026 at 14:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
On the southern bank of the River Tagus opposite Lisbon, Cristo Rei in Almada rises as a vast concrete cross-shaped monument with a statue of Christ standing above it. Conceived in the mid twentieth century and inaugurated in 1959, it has become a landmark of Portugal’s capital region, combining religious devotion with an expansive view over the estuary.
A sanctuary on the south bank of the Tagus
Cristo Rei stands on a hill in the municipality of Almada, overlooking the wide mouth of the Tagus and facing the city of Lisbon across the water.located in Almada From its cliff-top setting the monument looks out towards the 25 de Abril Bridge, the historic city centre and the Atlantic light beyond the harbour.overlooking the bridge and Lisbon
The full name of the complex is the National Sanctuary of Christ the King, a Catholic shrine dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.National Sanctuary of Christ the King The project belongs to the period after the Second World War and was inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, giving Portugal its own monumental figure of Christ watching over the capital region.inspired by Christ the Redeemer
Concrete cross and statue: scale, form and materials
The structure of Cristo Rei is composed of a tall reinforced-concrete pylon shaped as a cross, with a statue of Christ standing on top, arms outstretched towards Lisbon.monument and statue The total height of the monument is widely recorded as about 110 m (361 ft), combining the pedestal and the figure, which places it among the tallest religious structures in Portugal.110 m high monument
The pedestal itself rises for roughly 75 m (246 ft) in exposed concrete, forming the vertical arms and base of the cross, while the statue measures about 28 m (92 ft) from feet to head.75 m pedestal and 28 m statue The sculpted Christ was created by the Portuguese artist Francisco Franco de Sousa, and the architectural design of the portico and pedestal was by António Lino, linking the monument to mid twentieth-century Portuguese architecture and sculpture.Francisco Franco de Sousa and António Lino
Panoramic views and the sanctuary complex
The monument forms the centre of a wider sanctuary complex, with a chapel in the base of the pedestal and landscaped grounds around it that open onto the river views.chapel in the pedestal An observation platform at the top of the pedestal allows visitors to step out close to the feet of the statue, looking across Lisbon’s hills, the bridge and the long reach of the Tagus.
The site stands at an altitude of about 113 m (371 ft) above the level of the river, so even the terrace around the base offers wide open views along both banks.113 m above the Tagus The sanctuary is reached by access roads from Almada and sits within a park-like setting on the Pragal hill, with open paved areas, lawns and paths that frame the monument against the sky.
Visiting Cristo Rei: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Cristo Rei stands on the Pragal hill in Almada, south of Lisbon, reached across the Tagus by bridges or ferries linking Lisbon to the south bank.
- The approach to the monument involves walking across open paved areas and using lifts and flights of stairs inside the pedestal to reach the higher levels.
- In Portugal the official language is Portuguese and the currency is the euro.
Searching for Cristo Rei on social platforms
These links open searches for Cristo Rei on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Cristo Rei
Where is Cristo Rei located?
Cristo Rei stands on the south bank of the River Tagus in Almada, opposite Lisbon, on a hill in the Pragal area of Portugal’s Lisbon region.
What can visitors expect on a visit to Cristo Rei?
Visitors encounter a tall concrete cross with a statue of Christ, a sanctuary at its base and open terraces and platforms with wide views over Lisbon and the Tagus.
What makes Cristo Rei distinctive among Portuguese landmarks?
Its combination of a mid twentieth-century Catholic sanctuary, large-scale concrete monument and hilltop position facing Lisbon gives Cristo Rei a distinctive presence above the estuary.
