There are at least ten places where locals will proudly point at the coast and say that Joao Goncalves Zarco, the discoverer of Madeira, first landed on the island here. Residents of the village of Garajau, 15 kilometers from the island’s capital, Funchal, will do the same. To prove they are right, they will tell you that Zarco’s men not only landed here but also cut down two trees on a local mountain to make a cross. Then the wooden cross was replaced with a marble one. And that the current statue of Christ with his arms outstretched to the sides resembles this cross. No one knows if the French sculptor George’s Serra heard this story while designing the monument or some news about the beginning of the construction of a giant figure of Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But the Statue of Jesus Christ at Garajau appeared 4 years earlier than the Brazilian one, built for 9 years.

The pose of Jesus Christ is not accidental. It is part of the Catholic cult of the Sacred Heart: the Savior is depicted not on the cross, suffering, but already resurrected and taking the whole world into his arms. The 14-meter-high statue stands on the globe as if protecting the world from all the miseries. There is a heart carved on Christ’s chest, transmitting rays of light. Moreover, the statue offers gorgeous views of the capital’s port, the Atlantic Ocean, and the uninhabited Desertas Islands. All ships, including cruise liners, pass by this statue of Christ. So he greets each ship with this heartfelt gesture.

There is a narrow path that leads down from the observation deck to a promontory, which offers even more spectacular views. Not everyone dares to walk along the path, as it is narrow and shaky in some places. But we all do a lot of crazy things for beautiful photographs, right? The statue looks especially impressive from there. Besides, from the observation deck, you can take a funicular or a serpentine road down to the ocean, to the beach. As a part of the Garajau Marine Reserve, it is equipped with everything necessary for recreation and recommended for diving enthusiasts.