The 21-meter Christ of the Knoll: towering guardian of Palencia

The Cristo del Otero is a colossal sculpture symbolizing the city of Palencia, Spain. Designed by Victorio Macho, it stands at a height of 21 meters. 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 made of stone and glass that showcases items by the sculptor, pictures, videos, and even a life-sized statue of the Virgin Mary.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons