Hospital Sant Pau, #47, Barcelona, 2020
This place is a hidden gem–off the radar of most of the tourists whirlwinding through Barcelona, but well worth a visit. Especially if you want to overdose on modernist architecture!
Fun Facts:
–This complex was actually a real, functioning hospital until 2009.
–It was designed by the Catalan architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and built between 1901 and 1930.
–It is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
–It opened to visitors only recently–in 2014–after a several year restoration project (ongoing).
–There are a number of restored buildings on the “campus”, although you can only visit a few.
–Consider a guided tour for the Full Monty o’ Information.
Some Images…
Since your tour begins inside, let’s go with some ceiling shots to start out. There are approximately 593,694,739 individual tiles throughout the complex, all placed by hand. Well, actually, I don’t know the real number, but I’m not likely to be far off!
Hospital Sant Pau, #2, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #4, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #5, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #6, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #39, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #41, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #40, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #42, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #43, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #44, Barcelona, 2020
Outside, the building exteriors are just as ornate and spectacular as the interiors. Modernisme at its purest?
Hospital Sant Pau, #13, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #19, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #21, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #23, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #27, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #34, Barcelona, 2020
Hospital Sant Pau, #35, Barcelona, 2020
Finally, a wide-angle view of most of the structures in the Sant Pau complex–although the huge, main administration building is directly at my back. At this same moment, Sagrada Familia was being overrun by the international hordes… but I’m wondering, with time, will this place also be destined for the same fate? Likely not… hopefully not… maybe not? In Barcelona, it is nice–and rare!–to be able to visit a crown jewel and actually feel a bit of peace and tranquility at the same time. Note the small number of visitors on this Thursday afternoon in February:
Hospital Sant Pau, #36, Barcelona, 2020
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Comment
Is “Modernist” architecture something particular to Spanish architecture? I’d like to know more about that. This is truly awe-inspiring in beauty and so unique in its pastiche of styles in the individual elements with references to everything from Classical to Gothic, Romanesque to Moorish, and unusual details that turn an Ionic column to something with pseudo drapery. Very amazing tilework. So back to Modernism…it is lacking in ornamentation and referential to new construction techniques based on new materials like concrete and steel.