Heard of Heitor da Silva Costa? He was the man behind Rio de Janiero’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue, and he is the man behind this 3.5 metre high monument too. The image shows Our Lady of Fatima and the angel Gabriel under a dome of seven pillars. The monument is rich in numerical symbols:

• Three steps for the Rosary
• Five colonnades for Christ’s five wounds
• Seven pillars for seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

There is a small chapel at the foot of the monument, where masses take place on the 13th of each month.

The location of the monument is remarkable too – a hill which is the first spot in the city to hit by the sun at dawn. The views of the city and the surrounding mountains from here are stunning.

• From the path leading up from Casa de Santos Dumont, keep turning right and upward to reach the shrine.
• Take a taxi.
• Drive to here, and ask locals for directions.
• Ask locals for public transport info.

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