Antigua penitenciaría de Santiago, Former prison in Santiago Centro, Chile

Antigua Penitenciaría de Santiago is a former prison in Santiago featuring a symmetrical facade with a central tower and multiple courtyards arranged in a radial pattern. The structure displays the modern prison design approach typical of the 19th century.

The building was constructed in 1843 under General Manuel Bulnes and marked the beginning of Chile's modern prison system. This development signaled a shift in the country's approach to criminal justice.

The prison's nickname, "la Peni", is still used by Santiago residents for the Pedro Montt complex. Its panopticon layout, with cell blocks radiating from a central watch point, followed the model meant to impose a new punitive system in 19th-century Chile. The site is regarded as the birthplace of the country's current prison system.

The former prison stands at Pedro Montt 1902 in the Santiago Centro commune, near Rondizzoni station on Metro Line 2. The address is reachable by public transport, and the building can be viewed from the surrounding streets.

The building maintains its original panopticon design with a central minaret-style structure, making it one of the few preserved examples of its kind in Chile. The design enabled overseers to monitor all areas from the central point.