Statues are the finest exhibition of architectural prowess since the time known or unknown. These extraordinary work of art ranging from ancient, medieval, or modern times, quite subtly manifest the best of the era. Be it the rock-cut pieces from prehistoric eras or some of the finest yet giant monolithic pieces from medieval times, these famous statues in the world have fascinated tourists and archaeologists the most. Moreover, these statues have enjoyed their share of fame over the period.
17 Famous Statues In The World
Each one of these statues is special and drool-worthy, and they have rightly signified the place where they stand today. All of ’em must be ticked-off your bucket list soon! Here are the 13 famous statues in the world today.
- Statue Of Liberty, New York
- Christ The Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro
- Moai, Easter Island, Chile
- Little Mermaid, Denmark
- The Thinker, Paris
- David Statue, Italy
- Terrace Of The Lions, Delos, Greece
- The Statues Of Mount Nemrut, Turkey
- The Motherland Calls Statue, Russia
- The Statue of Unity, India
- The Manneken Pis, Belgium
- Great Sphinx Of Giza, Egypt
- Spring Temple Buddha, China
1. Statue Of Liberty, New York
Regarded as one of the popular sculptures and famous statues around the world, the Statue of Liberty was gifted to the United States from the people of France. Since 1886, the statue has been with the United States and today it stands as an insignia of liberty and democracy. The statue’s copper torch was later replaced 24-carat gold torch which is noticeable from a distance.
Established in: 1886
Most popular features of Statue Of Liberty: 225-ton weight, 305 feet, and 6 inches height, 154 steps from the head to the pedestal, and the tablet reads JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776)
How to reach Statue Of Liberty: Take a ferry from Battery Park NY or Liberty State Park to reach the statue directly.
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2. Christ The Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro
Very well-known as one of the famous statues in the world, Christ The Redeemer is made of concrete and soapstone, which was built during 1922-31 in Rio De Janeiro. The statue sits atop Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park, and today, it is one of the prominent attractions in Brazil as well as South America.
Completed in: 1931
Most popular features of Christ The Redeemer: 30 meters tall excluding the 8-meter pedestal, 28 meters arm stretch, and 635 metric tons weight
How to reach Christ The Redeemer: Take a train directly from Cosme Velho in Rio De Janeiro to the Christ The Redeemer. The train ride is also believed to be the most scenic of all the modes of transport to reach the statue.
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3. Moai, Easter Island, Chile
Easter Island Heads, popularly known as Moai, is another strange yet most famous sculpture in the world. It has also been maintained that most of these statues have bodies buried inside the ground. Which speaks volume of the ancient Easter Island civilization. The most interesting part about these statues is their detailing and how people from that time created monolithic sculptures. A lot of statues with head jutting out of the land can be found on the island which looks so fascinating amidst the infinite grasslands.
First settled: Not clear
Most popular features of Moai: Almost 1000 statues from 1,100 and 1,500 AD
How to reach Moai: Fly to Rapa Nui from Santiago, Chile. Santiago is well connected with major airports across the world.
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4. Little Mermaid, Denmark
The bronze statue rests on a rock by the waterfront at Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen, Denmark. The statue is a fine piece of art designed by Edvard Eriksen is yet another of the famous sculptures in the world that must be visited.
Opening date: 1913
Most popular features of Little Mermaid: The statue stands 1.25 m tall and measures 175 kg in weight
How to reach Little Mermaid: The Little Mermaid can be easily reached from the central Copenhagen. The statue sits on a rock at a harbor located north of Copenhagen’s old town. This place is easily accessible by foot or public transport from other parts of the country.
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5. The Thinker, Paris
Among all world famous statues, The Thinker is a bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, placed on a stone pedestal. The work shows a nude male figure of over life-size sitting on a rock with his chin resting on one hand. The statue is surrounded by a sprawling garden and a museum. A day out here with family is the most appropriate thing to do. The statue is located in the heart of the city, so it’s not at all difficult reaching there.
First displayed: 1904
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6. David Statue, Italy
Of all the classics of the Renaissance era, David by Michaelangelo is one of the finest creations ever. Carved out of a marble, this naked sculpture, located in Firenze in Italy, is certainly one of the famous sculptures in the world that observe a huge number of tourist every year. Today, the statue of Michaelangelo represents Italy as one the perfect place exhibiting Renaissance art.
First unveiled: 1504
Most popular features of David Statue: The statue standing 5.17 m tall was made by Michelangelo between 1501-04
How to reach David Statue: Train is the most convenient way to reach the museum where lies the statue of David. Santa Maria Novella is the station in Florence which is located in the city centre.
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7. Terrace Of The Lions, Delos, Greece
Famed for being the birthplace of Apollo and his sister Artemis, Terrace of the Lions is a remarkable archaeological site on Delos Island. Dating back to ancient times, this is one of the famous statues in the world which you must cover on your next trip to Greece. The Terrace of the Lions is a series of 12 stone lions places in the exact position that are believed to be built by people of Naxos in the honor of Apollo.
Some of the statues have weathered over the years because of climatic changes. As of now, the actual feline figures have been moved to the nearby museum so that no other statue gets damaged or destroyed.
Erected in: Before 600 BCE
Most popular features of Terrace of the Lions: Replica of marble statues of lions, as many as 16, from 600 BC stand in a sequence.
How to reach Terrace of the Lions: Ferry operates from Mikonos to Delos. Remember, Delos being an archaeological site doesn’t have a place to stay. Make sure that yours is a day trip.
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8. The Statues Of Mount Nemrut, Turkey
Among all the popular attractions that can be found in the Turkish Mountains, The Statues of Mount Nemrut is the most prominent. At 7000 feet, Mt. Nemrut – the throne of Gods, is a breathtaking beauty located in Turkish mountains that dates back to more than 2000 years. Mount Nemrut is a historical site that houses some of the most famous statues in the world.
On top of the mountains, there are a lot of statues of Greek and Persian gods. Massive as the statues are, they are intricately carved and are believed to be the most significant monument of the Kingdom of Commagene. Over the years, the statues have been damaged, therefore, the government has declared it as a protected zone since 1987.
Most popular features of The Statues of Mount Nemrut: A UNESCO World Heritage site, in 1988 Mt. Nemrut was confirmed as a National Park
How to reach The Statues of Mount Nemrut: Reach Adiyaman, (or Gaziantep or Urfa) from Istanbul by air. Adiyaman is the closest to Nemrut. Take a tour to Khata which is a 45-minute ride from Adiyaman. Minibusses to Adiyaman are available from Urfa as well as Gaziantep. The journey takes 2-3 hours to complete.
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9. The Motherland Calls Statue, Russia
This monumental statue in Russia was built in the honor of The Battle of Stalingrad. It stands on the bank of the river Volga and is 85 meters tall. It is built on the Mamayev Hill where a memorial exists in the memory of the heroes of the battle. It is an inspiration to many sculptors from across the world because of its unusual structure challenging the geometry. It is a statue of a woman(Motherland) walking with a raised sword calling on to her sons to stand up for the battle. Visitors have to walk up 200 stairs to reach the statue as it signifies the 200 days of battle. The statue has been reportedly tilting a little due to the groundwater movement that is, in turn, shifting the foundation.
Completed in: 1967
Location: Mamayev Kurgan, Volgograd, Russia.
Timings: 12:00 to 24:00
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10. The Statue of Unity, India
This 182 meters tall Bronze statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel is the tallest statue in the whole world. Renowned as the architect of modern India who united 562 Princely States to make the Republic of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister of independent India. He is fondly known as ‘the Iron Man of India’ who worked for the welfare of farmers.
This giant statue is located in an Island close to the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat overlooking the Narmada river. There is a museum at the foot of the statue that showcases the lifetime achievements of Sardar Vallabhai Patel. At 150 meters height, a viewing gallery has been constructed which can hold 200 people at a time. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam and the surroundings from here.
Completed in: 2018
How To Reach: Reach Sadhu Bet, Rajpipla, Gujarat by taking a bus from the capital, Gandhinagar.
Entry Fee: INR 350 per person
Timings: 8:00 to 18:00
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11. The Manneken Pis, Belgium
Manneken Pis is a bronze fountain statue of a baby boy peeing into a water basin and undeniably one of the famous statues in the world. This 61 cm statue remains the emblem of the rebellious spirit of Brussels. It was installed in the 17th Century and is a most visited place in Belgium. It has played an important role in the distribution of drinking water in Brussels. Sometimes it is nice to see the Manneken Pis dressed in different costumes on major occasions. Visitors can find various tourist shops and waffle stands around this junction.
Completed in: 1618 or 1619
Location: Junction of Ryu de l’E yuv and Rue du Chene
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12. Great Sphinx Of Giza, Egypt
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One of the most famous statues in the world, Great Sphinx of Giza, is a massive work of art that depicts a human head mounted on a massive lion body, all made out of limestone. Watch it at the time of sunset when the sky looks orange-ish with golden sunrays scattered over the massive statue. Add to it the huge Pyramids in the backdrop and there you have, one of the most sumptuous evening ever!
Built in: Approximately 2500 BC
Most popular features of The Great Sphinx Of Giza: Carved from the bedrock of the Giza plateau, Sphinx is a 73 m X 20 m single ridge of limestone, one of the largest single-stone statues in the world, since 1905 people got to see the complete body of the Sphinx, which was covered in sand before.
How to reach The Great Sphinx Of Giza: Take a bus/cab from Midan Tahrir to the Pyramids. Midan Tahrir is Cairo’s public square in the city center, which also serves as the city’s transportation hub. Upon reaching here, you can take a camel or horse ride to reach the Sphinx and Pyramids.
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13. Spring Temple Buddha, China
At 128 m, Spring Temple Buddha stands as the world’s tallest statue. It took 11 years to complete this massive structure comprising of 1100 copper casts. The statue standing on a 20 m tall lotus throne is located in Henan province in China. The spring by the temple inspires its name. Such is the charisma of this statue that it would leave you spellbound for sure.
Built in: Between 1997 and 2008
Most popular features of Spring Temple Buddha: The lotus-shaped pedestal also houses a monastery.
How to reach Spring Temple Buddha: Lushan is the closest town to the Spring Temple Buddha. Buses ply from Lushan to the Buddha statue. Since there are no airports nearby, it’s better to take a train from a nearby popular city. If you don’t speak Chinese it’s better to purchase a ticket online as a communication gap can lead to massive confusion at times.
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14. The Pieta, Tuscany
Image Credit: Mariordo for Wikimedia
One of the oldest and largest statues in the world is The Pieta located in Italy. Every year thousands of tourists come to visit this masterpiece which is known for its unique architecture and culture. The statue depicts mother Mary holding Jesus after the crucifixion.
Established In: In 2500 BC
Most Popular features of The Pieta, Tuscany: Carved out of stone, unique architecture depicting a heart wrenching scene
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15. The Terracotta Army, Xian
Image Credit: Karl-ferdinand for Pixabay
One of the world famous statues is none other than The Terracotta Army located in China which is carved out of Terracotta clay. Legends say that more than 700,000 labourers worked day in and out to built this masterpiece which is an army where every soldier has a different facial expression.
Established In: 246- 208 BC
Most popular features of The Terracotta Army, Xian: Chromium coating on every soldier carrying a bronze weapon, known for its magnificence
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16. Olmec Colossal Heads, San Lorenzo
Image Credit:Adam sk for Wikimedia
Olmec Colossal Heads located in Mexico is indeed one of the famous statues around the world. The statue is sculpted out of enormous basalt bounders and the heads have a mysterious history. A total of 17 heads have been discovered till date and each head expressing differently.
Established In: 1200 BC to 1400 BC
Most popular features of Olmec Colossal Heads, San Lorenzo: One of the most remarkable relics which was discovered from the ancient world.
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17. The Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan
Image Credit: Ariel Steiner for Wikimedia
In Lushan, the Leshan Giant Buddha is one of the most popular and tallest statues in China. It is considered to have been carved out of a cliff of Qifeng Peak which is regarded as the largest stone statue of Maitreya. The statue is built over the meeting point of the three rivers which was to calm down the turbulence which occurred due to falling of stones in the river.
Established In: 8th century AD
Most Popular features of The Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan: Built on the meeting pint of three rivers, largest stone statue of Maitreya
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Wherever they are located these statues have served as a major tourist attraction in the region. Moreover, there are plenty of other things to explore around them. Make sure that you tick them all off your bucket list this year so that you have more unique historical statues in the world to see with your loved ones in the coming year!
Frequently Asked Questions About Famous Statues In The World
Where is world’s largest statue?
The Statue of Unity that portrays Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the founding fathers of India is the world’s tallest statue. It is located in Gujrat, India and is around 182 m tall. Where is the tallest Buddha statue in the world?
The statue of Monywa Buddha in Myanmar is the largest statue of Buddha in the world. Which is the smallest statue in the world?
‘Trust’ by Jonty Hurwitz was the smallest statue in the world before it got accidentally crushed by a photographer. What is the height of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue?
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue measures around 182 meters. Which is the second tallest statue in the world?
Spring Temple Buddha in China is the second tallest statue in the world. It measures around 153 meters.
A perpetual nature seeker, Amit is on a mission to explore the best of planet Earth. Much famed as the Whistling Hound, Amit’s is currently based out of Wroclaw in Poland, and is experiencing the best of his life in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
