You probably already are familiar with the picture of a Christ statue deep under the sea and you are asking yourself where it can be found. The answer to that question is not even that straightforward as you might think as there exist more undersea statues of Christ named Christ of the Abyss scattered around the earth.
The original Christ of the Abyss is immersed in the waters of San Fruttuoso, not far from the worldwide renowned village of Portofino.
Located more than 15 meters deep under the sea, the bronze statue was placed on the seabed on the 22nd of August, 1954, at the initiative of legendary Italian diver Duilio Marcante, who wanted to place a statue of Jesus following the death of his friend Dario Gonzatti, which occurred during a dive a few years earlier in that spot. The statue was created by sculptor Guido Galletti, and its arms are raised upwards as a sign of invocation.
The sculpture is 2,5 meters high and it weighs 260 kg’s without the foundation. Following the death of Marcante was placed a plaque on the base of the statue in his memory.
It has been recently restored to preserve it from corrosion and fouling and to reattach the hand that had been detached by an anchor. The Christ of the Abyss has become a tourist destination for scuba divers around the world. In the village of San Fruttuoso there are plenty of diving centers that organize dives for tourists eager to see the statue.
The dive in the area where the Christ of the Abyss is located is not particularly difficult due to the shallow water and because of the proximity to the bay.
And if you choose to submerge into the sea, in this spot you will not only find the statue you are looking for, but also the remains of a British ship that sank not far from that spot during the Crimean War.
If you happen to be in San Fruttuoso on the last Saturday of July, you will be able to participate in a local ceremony that includes the blessing of the sea and lighting of candles along the bay. As said earlier, the original statue is not the only one that you can find.
There are copies of Christ of the Abyss both under the sea and above it, the most popular one being found in the United States, next to Key Largo, FL. For a list of places you can see the statue head over to our page dedicated to keep a track on the worldwide locations.
Christ Of The Abyss Location
The original Statue Of The Abyss statue can be found in the Mediterranean Sea, in San Fruttuoso, a harbor located in the province of Liguria in Italy, between Camogli and Portofino and only 35 km to the east from the city of Genoa. Because it is situated in a natural reservation, it is not easily accessible by means of car or public transportation.
You can either go by foot, as it is situated less than 3 km away in walking distance from Portofino, or take a boat from Camogli. If you decide to take a boat tour and if the weather conditions are nice, you may even have the chance to see the bronze statue from the boat, although this is not guaranteed.
The boat ride from Camogli will take you 25-30 minutes on average and a return trip will cost about 12 euro. If you feel more adventurous, you can also take a walk from Camogli through Monte Portofino. Depending on your pace, a walk through the mountain will take you between 2 and 3 hours. The hiking path is very well marked and maintained. From Portofino, a walk will take you only about 30-40 minutes. The hiking trail is very well maintained here as well. Once you get to San Fruttuoso, do not miss to visit the abbey, which on its own is a tourist attraction.
See also Christ of the Abys replicas page where you will find more information about some copies of the statue and their location.
Christ Of The Abyss Around The World
Besides the original statues built in the 1950’s that is found next to Portofino, there are other places where you can visit the Christ of the Abyss statue. If you find yourself in San Fruttuoso but don’t want to dive in to watch it, you can admire a replica of it in the church of San Fruttuoso. If you are in Lombardy, there is also a statue of the Christ in Chiesa di Valmalenco, in Lake Palu. Here, you won’t find the statue under the water at all times. Instead, during a ceremony at the beginning of each summer, the statue is placed on the lake’s bottom and it is taken out by the end of the summer.
Replica of Christ of the abyssThe original cast of the statue can also be found in Italy, not in Liguria, but in the city of Ravenna, inside the National Museum of Underwater Activities.
Probably the most popular replica of the statue can be found off the shore of Key Largo, Florida in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The statue that can be found here was cast from the same mold as the original by Guido Galletti. It is a very popular attraction for divers and snorkelers alike. The statue stand only 2-3 meters (7-10 feet) beneath sea level and can be visited all year round.
The bronze statue was placed in its current place in 1965 and since then it was encrusted by sponges and corals. Finally, a smaller copy of the statue can also be found next to the city of St George’s, the capital city of the Caribbean nation, Grenada.
QUICK FACTS:
Height: 2.5 meters (8.5 feet)
Depth: San Fruttuoso = 17 m deep &
Key Largo = 2-3 m deep.
Placed under the sea: 1954
Sculptor: Guido Galletti