Statua del Redentore

The Statue of the Redeemer is a bronze sculpture located on one of the highest peaks of Mount Ortobene, in the area known as Monte 'e Bidda, overlooking the city of Nuoro.

The statue, created by Calabrian sculptor Vincenzo Jerace, was erected for the 1900 Jubilee, when Pope Leo XIII called for the construction of 19 monuments to Christ the Redeemer, one for each century since the birth of Christ, to be placed atop 19 peaks across Italy, one in each region.

The statue was cast in Naples, then transported to Sardinia by sea, disassembled into sections. These parts were then hauled up the mountain by ox-drawn carts and assembled on site.

To finance the project, a special committee was formed, calling upon the people of Sardinia to contribute with donations. Among the supporters of the initiative was Grazia Deledda, later a Nobel Prize-winning author. The statue was initially scheduled to be inaugurated in June 1901, but the date was postponed due to the death of Jerace’s wife, Luisa Pompeati, on April 28th. In her memory, the sculptor engraved these words into the open palm of Christ:

"To Luisa Jerace, who died while her Vincenzo was sculpting her."

The statue was officially inaugurated on August 29, 1901, in a solemn ceremony.

The sculpture alone - without its base - stands over 4 meters tall and weighs about 2 tons. Christ is depicted with flowing robes, standing firmly and raising a cross. The design is perfectly balanced, and despite being exposed for over a century to harsh winds and extreme temperatures, the first structural restoration was only required 111 years later.

Behind the right foot of Christ is the face of a child, often misinterpreted locally as an angel or a devil. According to Jerace, however, it represents humanity, which stands before God as a child.

At the base of the rocky outcrop where the statue stands, a plaque commemorates Luisa, Countess Pompeati Jerace. Below her profile are verses traditionally attributed to Grazia Deledda.

Every year, the Festival of the Redeemer is held at the end of August. On August 29th, a pilgrimage departs from the Cathedral and reaches the statue, where a solemn mass is celebrated. This event is the culmination of a week-long celebration featuring religious and cultural events, traditional costume parades, songs, and dances from all over Sardinia.

These festivities offer a profound moment of community gathering and a vibrant expression of Sardinian culture.

The Statue of the Redeemer is not only a powerful symbol of faith but also a cultural landmark for Nuoro—an enduring beacon of spiritual and artistic heritage that continues to inspire generations.

A plaque commemorating Luisa, Countess Pompeati Jerace (sculptor's wife)