I visited the Iglesia Parroquia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes in Atlántida in March 2022. As described by previous reviewers, I took a bus from Montevideo going east and got off at the intersection for Atlántida. I then walked to the church. At first glance, from the outside, the church appears rather small and not necessarily impressive. Walking around it, one can see the brick exterior and the corrugated walls. The campanile is probably the most original structure visible from the outside, with its tiny steps winding up to the bells. When I arrived, the church was closed, and a couple of American tourists were also checking it out. They didn't know how to get in any more than I did.

This information is perhaps the most relevant in this review. The man running Kiosco 29 on the street corner east of the church, near the butcher shop, knew the lady with the church keys and was able to call her. So, after waiting a few minutes, a beautiful old lady arrived on her bicycle with her summer dress and the keys to the church. Another group of visitors had arrived in the meantime and were also enjoying the opening of the doors. The atmosphere in the church is really special. The curvature of the walls is still visible, but the curvature of the ceiling adds to the decor and creates an impressive effect. The average visitor will not be able to judge whether this construction is a feat of engineering, but he will recognize a unique building. The colored windows add an interesting touch to these walls. The unique atmosphere one feels is exacerbated by the fact that everything in the church is built of brick (from the confessionals to the balcony) and that the altar is particularly simple and austere.

Finally, the visit to this site takes only a few minutes, a little longer if you must work a little to find the key. It is difficult to assess how exceptional or influential this church is on the world heritage scale, but it provides a very pleasant visit and an original setting. It is possible to peek inside through a window in the door if the key is not available when you visit. I did not visit the baptistery.