Santuario Nacional del Corazón de Jesús, Montevideo, Cultural heritage monument on Cerrito de la Victoria hill, Montevideo, Uruguay

The Santuario Nacional del Corazón de Jesús is a brick church in a free Byzantine style on the summit of the Cerrito de la Victoria in Montevideo. It was designed by Elzeario Boix, Ernesto Vespignani and Horacio Terra Arocena, with references to the Sacré-Cœur in Paris and Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Its silhouette above the hill makes it a landmark of the city.

Construction of the religious complex began in 1919 under architects Ernesto Vespignani, Elzeario Boix, and Horacio Terra Arocena, with completion in 1926. The project emerged during a period of significant urban growth and religious development in Montevideo.

The sanctuary was designated as a national religious site by Archbishop Mariano Soler in 1898, becoming a center for spiritual practice in Uruguay. Visitors today experience how this place continues to hold meaning for people seeking a connection to faith and community.

The shrine stands on the summit of the Cerrito de la Victoria, reached by the streets around Basilio Araujo 6088. From the hilltop the whole Montevideo skyline is visible, so the spot also works as an orientation point. The temple is undergoing restoration, so parts of the building may be closed to visitors.

The church was consecrated in 1927 and run by the Padres Sacramentinos until 2002, when it passed to the diocesan clergy. It has been a National Historic Monument since 1975 and is currently undergoing restoration, so scaffolding may cover parts of the brickwork.