Hospital Sant Pau, Barcelona

The full name of this hospital is "Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau", but we usually call it simply "Sant Pau". You may find odd to visit a hospital just for tourism... but if you do it, you'll see is worth it! The complex is a masterpiece of the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and in 1997, together with the Palau de la Música Catalana, it was declared World Heritage by UNESCO for its "singular architectural and artistic beauty".

You'll see more pics at my travelogue: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/i/97e0f/

Update Jun 2011: currently the old hospital complex is still being restored, so virtually all the buildings are closed, as is the main central garden and other parts are under scaffolding. The main facade is already restored and you can access the church from the side entrance. In any case, as it's just a 10 minutes walk from Sagrada Familia, still is worth a visit, even if only for the exterior part.

There are guided tours, from Monday to Sunday:
English: 10.00 - 11:00 - 12:00 - 13:00
Français: 10:30
Castellano: 11:30
Català: 12:30

I did the guided tour a few weeks ago, you get inside one of the pavilions and they give very good explanations about the pace and its history. However, the most beautiful interior part is closed, and according our guide its restoration works will be not finished until 2013.


Info office is open from 9:30 to 13:30, you can get your tickets and other info about the Modernista Route there.

Pre-arranged visits can be organised for any time and day by phoning +34 933 177 652. Further information is available through the website www.rutadelmodernisme.com

3 more images

HOSPITAL OF THE HOLY CROSS AND SAINT PAUL
This hospital, near from the Sagrada Familia temple, was built by Domènech i Montaner between 1901 and 1930. In spite of it's an interesting touristic spot in town it still runing as an hospital today. The different pavillions are decorated with mosaics depicting mythological characters and some Catalonian history episodes. The building is protected by UNESCO.

HOSPITAL DE LA SANTA CRUZ Y DE SAN PABLO
Este hospital, cerca del templo de la Sagrada Familia, fue construido por Domènech i Montaner entre 1901 y 1930. A pesar de ser un interesante lugar turístico continua siendo un hospital en la actualidad. Los diferentes pabellones que lo conforman están decorados con mosaicos representando personajes mitológicos y episodios de la historia catalana. El edificio está protegido por la UNESCO.

After an exhausitng visit to Sagrada Familia walk along Avinguda Gaudi,enjoy some tapas on the little terraces spread lenghtwise and offers to yourself a moment of leisure visiting this masterpiece of modernism.Built in 1901 by Lluis Domenech i Montaner, it includes 46 small pavilions ,each to a medical specialty, small castles with floral ornamentation .Stone, mosaic, marble,brick and ceramics were used.
The entire complex is a combinations of spaces,colours and shapes with science at highest level

4 more images

Together with The Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, built by the same art nouveau architect, the hospital is a World Heritage Site. It is still a hospital in use but much of the medical practice is being moved to more modern buildings. Some of the pavilions on the site will become museums.
The present hospital was constructed in the beginning of the 20th century by Lluis Domenech i Montaner. He did not like big hospitals but thought that fresh air and art would make the patients well quicker. He built 16 pavilions in a big garden. Between the pavilions there were corridors underground. The hospital has been decorated by several artists and there are statues, tilled roofs, mosaics and more.
You can join a tour if you want to see more, but I only walked around in the grounds, which you can do anytime.

The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau has reached its 600th anniversary. Ever since it came into being, in 1401, the Hospital has constantly evolved. Its original goal -"to serve the poor and the pilgrims in Christian charity"- has been adapted to our times -"to be a hospital that is open to society and to its health-care setting, client-focussed, competitive and dynamic". The building, originally located in carrer Hospital, in the heart of Barcelona, was relocated in 1930 when the current hospital, now in carrer Sant Antoni Maria Claret, was officially opened. On 12 December, 2000 a further step was taken when the first stone of what will be the New Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau was laid.

In 1997 Unesco proclamed This Hospital Patrimony of Humanity

4 more images

The city hospital was designed by Domenech I Montaner in 1902, it is a mix of Moors brick design and modern style, structure is adorned by ceramics. For me it was one of the most impressive modern trend buildings in Barcelona, despite of a long way here from very central part of Barcelona (let say, Rambla), it is worth visiting.

Here are quite much green areas around instead of more constructions of hospital. I have read that most of corridors are made as undergrounds to safe green area around.

After your visit to Sagrada Familia I raccomend you visit this wonderful work by the architect Domenech i Montaner. Behind the main building you can take a walk and see the numerous pavilions with the colourful potter roofs shining with the sun light. You won't regreat it, I'm sure.

When U think of an Hospital you imagine a huge impersonnal white building with many litthe windows... this one will change your ideas about Hospitals! More like a fairy tale town, this many buildings located near the Sagrada Familia church look like an architecture museum.
Everywhere you look at there are wonderful modernist buildings, pavillions, roofs, tiles...
And is FREE, as it is a working hospital, you don't have to pay (or be ill LOL) to enter. There are guided tours too.

Don't miss the underground tunels connecting all the pavilllions. They were used as shelter during the Civil War.

This working hospital is an Art Nouveau masterpiece by Lluis Domenech i Montaner. After his death the works were continued by his son. It was built between 1901 and 1930.

It is made up of many pavillions; I think more than forty.

This is undoubtedly the most underrated site in Barcelona. Even here on VirtualTourist it is way down on the list of things to see. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful sites in the city. The facade of the main entrance building which you see as you approach the hospital from Av Gaudi is quite nice, but the real jewels are on the hospital campus behind it, after entering the complex. After reviewing these pictures, it became obvious to me that they don't do justice to the place. You have to actually be there to really appreciate this unique site. And remember that inside the individual pavilions - each one a work of art - is a modern, functioning hospital. If you gotta be sick, this is the place to be hospitalized! :)