Havana, November 6 (RHC)-- The Christ of Havana, one of the symbols that identifies the Cuban capital and the most emblematic work of Cuban sculptor Jilma Madera, has been declared a National Landmark.

According to Radio Reloj, in granting the landmark condition to the statue, the authorities of the island´s Monuments Commission announced over the weekend that it took into consideration the piece´s exceptional artistic values, and that it has become a milestone in the landscape of the city and an icon of the Cuban capital identity.

They also considered that the Christ is located in a public space of great beauty, with privileged views of the city, and the commission acknowledged the quality of the restoration process that has restored the statue to its original splendor.

The statue was carved out of white Carrara marble and it is about 20 meters high including a 3-meter base. It weighs approximately 320 tons. It is located in the Havana suburb of Casablanca, in the municipality of Regla, and was inaugurated on December 24, 1958.