Clínica Santa Lucía, Historical detention center in Santiago, Chile
Clínica Santa Lucía is a four-story building designed in 1934 by architect Alberto Cruz Montt with Gothic details and Tudor-style arches. The structure features structured balconies, an attic level, and architectural elements typical of early 20th-century construction.
Originally a medical clinic when built in 1934, the building was transformed into a secret detention facility after 1973 during the military dictatorship. From 1973 to 1977, it served as a place where political prisoners were held and subjected to abuse.
The building now serves as a memorial space where visitors encounter personal belongings, photographs, and testimonies from those held inside. These objects and stories remain visible today, connecting people across generations to what happened within these walls.
The building is located at Santa Lucía 162 and is accessible by public transportation or on foot. Guided tours are available that explain how the space was used and how it functions as an educational center today.
Medical staff at the facility deliberately kept prisoners alive during interrogations to prolong the process of questioning and abuse. This made medical care itself an instrument of the detention system rather than a tool for healing.
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