Sanctuary on San Cristóbal Hill

The Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception sits atop San Cristóbal Hill, 863 meters above sea level, and is a major Catholic landmark in Santiago. Its centerpiece is a 14-meter-tall statue of the Virgin Mary, visible from across the city day and night. An amphitheater at the base hosts religious ceremonies, and a small chapel nearby offers a quiet space for prayer.

Don't miss

• The 14-meter-tall statue of the Immaculate Conception, weighing 36,610 kilograms, on an 8.3-meter pedestal.
• A small chapel on the pedestal where Pope John Paul II prayed and blessed Santiago on April 1, 1987.
• The statue is lit at night, making it visible from all over the city.
• An amphitheater at the foot of the statue for masses and religious ceremonies.
• A nearby small chapel for private prayer.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Sanctuary on San Cristóbal Hill

Cheapest way inOfficial Tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago5★ · 589 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$11 per personSee dates →Best full dayInca Lagoon in Andes Mountain Range - Visit Local Vineyard with Tasting included4.8★ · 2,156 travelers~11 hoursFree cancellationFrom$79 per personSee dates →Private & flexiblePrivate San Cristobal Hill & Metropolitan Park Santiago Bike Tour4.9★ · 35 travelers2-3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$91 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• Reach the sanctuary by road through Santiago Metropolitan Park, the Funicular de Santiago, or the Santiago Cable Car, which stops next to the sanctuary.
• The statue was thoroughly cleaned and repainted in early 2012 and remains in good condition.

A bit of history

Before the Spanish arrived, the hill was called Tupahue, meaning 'Place of God' in Mapundungun, and was venerated by indigenous people. A 10-meter cross stood on the summit until the late 19th century. In 1904, to mark the 50th anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Archbishop Mariano Casanova approved the construction of a Marian shrine. The statue, a reproduction of the 'Virgin of Rome' designed by Luigi Poletti and made by Giuseppe Obici, was cast in France and cost 22,000 francs. The first stone was laid on December 8, 1904, and the sanctuary was inaugurated on April 26, 1908. Pope John Paul II visited in 1987 and prayed in a small chapel on the pedestal.