The Cristo del Otero is a colossal sculpture symbolizing the city of Palencia, Spain. Designed by Victorio Macho, it is one of the highest statues of Jesus Christ in the world. Originally designed to contrast sharply with the horizontality of the Castilian countryside, it is built to appear taller when viewed from below. Two empty sockets on its face were intended for blocks of ivory and marble, but were left empty due to budget constraints. The statue faces the city, appearing to bless it. The sculpture, built in 1931, has a style reminiscent of Art Deco with Cubist resonances and echoes of ancient Egyptian art in the hieratic pose of the figure.
At its feet is a chapel named Santa Maria del Otero and a small museum with items by the architect. The museum contains information panels on the life and work of Victorio Macho, pictures of monuments, videos of the author's works in Palencia, and various busts and bronze statuettes. It also houses a life-size statue of Pregnancy, done in plaster, taken from a mold of Victorio Macho.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
Discuss this with the author and others
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.