Hospital Sant Pau, Barcelona

4 more images

I only knew I should visit this place without having any further information about it. I not even knew that this hospital is still working.
I was really impressed....I think it´s a fabolous place to get better again, just too beautiful the buildings, although I haven´t been inside and don´t know how the patient rooms are.

This hospital complex has been constructed between 1902 and 1911 from the catalan architect Lluís Domènech i Montanerand was paid by the funds of Barcelona banker Paul Gil through his last will and testament.
Since 1997 it is part of the world cultural heritage of the UNESCO.

Visit a hospital while on vacation! I know you'd rather not. But you should see this one. One doesn't understand how somebody can be ill in such an environment. I has beautiful architecture, just as the rest of Barcelona. But you still should go and see it. It's free to enter and you can just walk on the hospitalgrounds. I don't know if you can enter the building. We didn't, because we didn't liked being a tourist between all those ill people.
The hospital was built in the nineteenth century. First the hospital was situated in what is now the Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya (the Catalan National Library).

If you like Gaudi architecture and modernism of Barcelona, why not walking just a few more from Sagrada Familia to get to Hospital de St. Pau? In my oppinion, is better than SaFa, a jewell of architecture and city planning. The architect was Domenech i Muntaner, the same of Palau de la Musica, another must to visit in BCN.

This hospital is not only a building, it's a whole little city with parks, avenues and different pavillions to stroll around...

Nowadays, there are guided tours inside. Only weekends at the morning, every 1/2 hour.

The hospital is still working today, but there is a new building where this year they are moving everything, and the old area will remain as cultural spot.

2 more images

Domenech i Montaner is responsible for the exsquisite architecture of Hospital ed la Santa i de Sant Pau. This is a World Heritage Site and when you see it you can, at once, understand why. There are 16 pavilions, each different but each exceptionally beautiful.

At the time when I visited it was still a fully functioning hospital with ambulances whizzing in and out and doctors in white coats wandering from one building to the next. As such, admission to the site was completely free and it was a slightly weird feeling to be clicking away with my camera whilst people were being stretchered in and out!!! Plans were afoot and the hospital facilities were in the midst of being moved to another site. It may be that this rtansition is now complete and that the site has become a museum dedicated to Mr Montaner, medicine, hospitals etc...
Apparently there was a guided tour that one could take but I never knew about it so cannot comment. Whilst I am sure it would have been informative, it was actually rather nice to simply enjoy the grounds as the only tourist (as opposed to a patient!)

Despite of being within viewing distance of La Sagrada Familia, or perhaps because of it, many people pass by Hospital de Sant Pau, a beautifully ornated building.

Luis Domenech I Montaner began designing a new hospital in 1902. His innovative scheme consisted of 26 attractive Mudejar-style pavillions set in large gardens, as he believed that patients would recover better among fresh air and trees. Today it leaves us with this amazing structure where we wondered off for a while. We just kept on looking above our heads and examining all rhe wall, trying not to miss any of the beautiful details.

Also believing art and colour to be therapeutic, Luis Domenech I Montaner decorated the pavilions profusely. The turreted roofs were tiled with ceramics and the reception pavillion embellished with mosaic murals and sculptures by Pau Gargallo.

1 more image

Hospital de Sant Pau is easily one of the most stunning architectural sights in Barcelona. The hospital was drawn by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner who played an important role in defining the Modernisme arquitectonic (Art Nouveau / Jugendstil in architecture) in Catalonia. What an amazing brain Domènech i Montaner must have had, understanding the major importance of beauty in a hospital milieu.

The hospital is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with Palau de la Música Catalana, by the same architect. The hospital was constructed between 1901-1912 and it must be the most beautiful hospital in the world!

You are free to walk in the grounds but be sure to pay due respect to the sick people and the hospital staff. Do not forget it´s still a working place with real patients inside.

Sometimes there are places you want to see, and in advance you know that you won't be disappointed once you're actually there. The Hospital de la Santa Crue i de Sant Pau is one of those places.

We stood in front of this amazing building and learned a few nice facts that we didn't know and surprised us a little bit. Listen, although the hospital's current building date from the 20th century, the Hospital de Sant Pau was founded in 1401 when six small medieval hospitals merged. The hospital's former buildings near the center of Barcelona date from the 15th century, and now house an art school (Escola Massana) and National Library of Catalonia, but that's maybe something for another visit to the city.

In spite of being an interesting touristic spot of town, it is still running as an hospital today. We immediately saw the dfferent pavillions which are decorated with mosaics depicting mythological characters and some Catalonian history episodes. The building is protected by UNESCO.

Maybe the most amazing thing is that in spite of it being a very interesting touristic spot in town it is still running as an hospital today! Consistently with the requests made directly by the costumer, lot's of climate improvements have been made over the years. But they were done in such a way that they would leave the outside of the building untouched, thereby preserving its imposing and majestic appearance. Unfortunately, we arrived just after the last tour departed and couldn't go inside. So, check the tour times if you plan on going.

Our conclusion was rather simple: this very interesting hospital compound is made up of several buildings and the architecture was truly amazing. Anyway, the outside of the Hospital is amazing and so is the church. And the University nearby is also quite interesting to visit. For us a true must visit.

3 more images

Hospital de Sant Pau was built between 1901 and 1930 and it is associated with another Hospital in the center of Barcelona which was built in the 15th century (where are now an art school and National Library of Catalonia)

The Hospital has an amazing architecture, whose origins are explaned during a guided tour. You also pass through a beautiful church which is a part of the Hospital complex.

Currently they are reconstructing the hospital so meetings of Mediterranean countries can be held there. Right now there is a tour (the once I took) named "Sant Pau under construction". I don't know if when the recovering of the building ends there will be the possibility of going on a guided tour. I hope so.

Anyway, the outside of the Hospital is amazing and so is the church. And the University nearby is also quite interesting to visit.

This is the site about guided tours
http://www.santpau.es/patr_visites.asp

And this one about the Hospital and activities happening there
http://webs01.santpau.cat/portal/en/4/inicio

Other modernist places of interest
You can also visit Hospital de San Pablo (yes, I know, it's a hospital) with characteristical curved shapes style and Sagrada Familia Temple, maybe one of the most visited places in Barcelona.