Where It's Located
The Vitória Brazil Temple will be located at:
Avenida Leitão da Silva #2055
Iteraré
Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
The site is near the Santa Maria de Vitória River in the southern portion of Vitória.
Vitória is the capital of Espírito Santo and one of Brazil's important coastal cities. Unlike many Brazilian capitals, Vitória is situated on an island within a large bay where several rivers meet the Atlantic Ocean.
The city's geography gives it a distinctive setting, with water, hills, beaches, and densely developed neighborhoods surrounding the future temple site.
The First Temple in Espírito Santo
The Vitória Brazil Temple will be the first temple constructed in the state of Espírito Santo.
This distinction makes the project particularly significant for Latter-day Saints in the state. Although Brazil already has a large network of temples, members in Espírito Santo have historically needed to travel outside the state to attend the temple.
The future temple will bring a house of the Lord directly to the state's capital and its surrounding communities.
It will also become part of an expanding network of temples throughout Brazil.
The Temple Announcement
President Russell M. Nelson announced the Vitória Brazil Temple on October 3, 2021, during the October 2021 General Conference.
It was one of 13 new temples announced during the conference.
At the time, the Church was continuing a major expansion of temples around the world, with an emphasis on making temple worship more accessible to members in many different regions.
The Vitória announcement was particularly meaningful for Brazil because it added another temple to a country that already had one of the largest Latter-day Saint populations in the world.
Brazil's Growing Temple Network
Brazil has one of the largest populations of Latter-day Saints outside the United States.
The country already has dedicated temples in cities including São Paulo, Campinas, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Manaus, Brasília, Belém, and Salvador.
Other temples have been announced or are under construction across the country.
As of 2026, Brazil has more than 1.5 million Latter-day Saints meeting in more than 2,000 congregations.
The Vitória temple is part of this continuing expansion, bringing temple access to another major Brazilian population center.
Finding the Temple Site
The Church announced the location of the Vitória Brazil Temple on February 27, 2023.
The selected property is located at Avenida Leitão da Silva #2055 in the Iteraré neighborhood.
Plans call for a temple of approximately 10,600 square feet.
The site is near the Santa Maria de Vitória River, placing the future temple within Vitória's established urban landscape rather than on a large undeveloped property outside the city.
Preparing the Property
One of the most significant developments in the temple's history has already occurred: the former buildings on the property have been demolished and the temple site has been cleared.
The demolition was reported in September 2023, only about six months after the temple location was announced.
The cleared property provides a visible indication of the future temple project, even though construction has not yet formally begun.
As of the latest available information, the site remains in the planning and approval stage.
Architecture and Design
The planned Vitória Brazil Temple will contain approximately 10,600 square feet of floor space.
It is planned as a single-story temple.
The temple will include:
- One instruction room
- One sealing room
- One baptistry
These facilities are designed to accommodate the principal temple ordinances performed in the building.
Because an exterior rendering has not yet been publicly released, details about the building's exterior materials, architectural style, roofline, landscaping, and any tower or spire have not been officially announced.
Waiting for the official rendering is important because the final architectural design may differ from early conceptual expectations.
A Temple Designed for a Coastal City
Vitória's geography makes the future temple particularly interesting.
The city is surrounded by water and hills, with much of its urban area built around a series of bays and coastal inlets.
The future temple will therefore be part of a city where natural geography plays a major role in its identity.
Vitória is also closely connected to the neighboring municipalities of Vila Velha, Serra, and Cariacica, creating a large metropolitan area around the state capital.
The temple will serve members living throughout this broader region.
Vitória and Espírito Santo
Vitória is the capital of Espírito Santo, one of Brazil's southeastern states.
The state sits between Bahia to the north, Minas Gerais to the west, and Rio de Janeiro to the south.
Espírito Santo is known for its Atlantic coastline, mountainous interior, coffee production, agriculture, and major ports.
Vitória itself is an important economic and transportation center.
The city is also known for beaches, waterfront areas, parks, and historic neighborhoods.
Visiting Vitória
Vitória offers a variety of attractions for visitors.
The city's coastline is one of its most recognizable features, with beaches and waterfront areas extending through several parts of the metropolitan region.
Nearby Vila Velha is home to the famous Convento da Penha, a historic religious site located high above the city with views across Vitória Bay.
Visitors can also explore Praia da Costa, Camburi Beach, local parks, historic districts, and the waterfront.
The combination of beaches, hills, islands, and urban development gives the region a distinctive character compared with many other Brazilian capitals.
A Temple Near the River
The temple's location near the Santa Maria de Vitória River is another interesting characteristic of the project.
Vitória's landscape is shaped by the interaction between rivers, bays, islands, and the Atlantic Ocean.
The temple will sit within this urban environment rather than being isolated from the surrounding community.
Once completed, the building will provide a recognizable religious landmark in the Iteraré area while remaining closely connected to the neighborhoods around it.
A Temple for Local Members
The practical purpose of the Vitória Brazil Temple will be to give Latter-day Saints in Espírito Santo a more accessible place to participate in temple worship.
Temples are different from regular Church meetinghouses. Meetinghouses are used for Sunday worship and other activities and are open to visitors.
Temples are dedicated sacred buildings where faithful Church members participate in ordinances and make covenants.
For members who currently have to travel to another state to attend a temple, the future Vitória temple will eventually make that journey considerably shorter.
The Importance of Temple Access
Travel distance has historically been one of the major challenges for Latter-day Saints living far from a temple.
Brazil is geographically enormous, stretching more than 2,500 miles from north to south.
Even with a growing temple network, some members still face substantial travel when attending the temple.
The construction of smaller temples in additional cities is one way the Church is expanding access.
The planned 10,600-square-foot Vitória temple fits this model: it is large enough to provide the essential ordinances of a temple while remaining appropriately scaled to its local setting.
A Small Temple With Regional Importance
The Vitória Brazil Temple will not be one of the largest temples in Brazil.
At approximately 10,600 square feet, it will be relatively compact.
But its importance comes from its location.
It will be the first temple in Espírito Santo and will provide a temple presence in a state that previously had none.
The temple's size also reflects a broader trend in temple construction toward smaller buildings that can be placed closer to local populations.
From Announcement to Site Preparation
The history of the Vitória Brazil Temple can be traced through several important milestones:
October 3, 2021: President Russell M. Nelson announces the Vitória Brazil Temple during General Conference.
February 27, 2023: The Church announces the temple's location at Avenida Leitão da Silva #2055.
September 2023: Buildings previously occupying the temple property are demolished, clearing the site for the future temple.
2026: The temple remains in the planning and approval stage, with the site cleared but no groundbreaking date announced.
Future: A groundbreaking ceremony, construction, open house, and dedication will eventually follow.
The Church has not yet announced an official groundbreaking, open house, or dedication date.
Vitória's Place in Brazil's Temple Expansion
The Vitória temple is one piece of a much larger expansion of temple construction in Brazil.
In 2026, the Church reported that Brazil had numerous temples either operating, under construction, or announced. The Teresina Brazil Temple broke ground in April 2026, while additional projects such as Maceió and Vitória were progressing through the planning process.
This means that the Vitória temple is being developed during one of the most active periods of temple construction in Brazilian history.
As more temples are completed, members throughout the country will have more opportunities to participate in temple worship without traveling as far.
What Happens Next?
The next major step for the Vitória Brazil Temple will be the announcement of a groundbreaking date.
Before construction begins, the project must continue through the necessary planning and approval processes.
An exterior rendering and site plan will also eventually provide the public with a clearer picture of the finished temple.
Once construction begins, additional milestones will follow, including the construction of the foundation, structural work, interior finishing, landscaping, and eventually preparation for a public open house.
After the temple is completed and dedicated, it will become an operating temple serving members throughout Espírito Santo and surrounding areas.
A Future Landmark for Vitória
The future Vitória Brazil Temple will occupy a site that has already been cleared and is waiting for the next stage of development.
Its eventual construction will transform the property into a dedicated house of the Lord and create the first temple in Espírito Santo.
Because Vitória is both a state capital and an important coastal city, the temple will occupy a meaningful place within one of southeastern Brazil's major metropolitan areas.
Its relatively small size will allow it to fit within the urban environment while providing the essential functions of a temple.
Final Thoughts
The Vitória Brazil Temple has been in development since its announcement in 2021, and the project has already progressed from an initial announcement to site selection and property clearance.
The temple will be the first house of the Lord in Espírito Santo, making it particularly meaningful for Latter-day Saints throughout the state.
Its planned 10,600-square-foot design will provide a relatively compact temple in the capital city, while its location near the Santa Maria de Vitória River places it within the distinctive coastal landscape for which Vitória is known.
There is still more to come. The groundbreaking date, exterior rendering, construction schedule, open house, and dedication have not yet been announced. But with the property already cleared, the site is prepared for the next chapter.
When the temple is eventually completed, it will add another permanent house of the Lord to Brazil's rapidly expanding temple network and give members in Espírito Santo a temple much closer to home.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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