After four years of restoration, the Sant Pau Moderniste complex is open to the public. Now you can visit all these buildings: Administration, Sant Jordi, Santa Apol·lònia, Sant Leopold, Sant Manuel and Nostra Senyora de la Mercè.

The Hospital of Santa Creu and Sant Pau was officially opened in 1930, thanks to a legacy from the banker Pau Gil, who saw that the city’s health needs were growing as it rapidly expanded. At first, the hospital project envisaged the construction of a total of 48 buildings devoted to different medical specialisations. However, in the end, only 27 were built. Of these, 12 were constructed by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1850-1923).

The complex was designed in accordance with a new conception of hospital care, which consisted of adopting a holistic approach to patients. Functional and practical spaces were created to improve the treatment of patients. At the same time, garden areas were created with the aim of providing relaxation spaces to help patients make a quick recovery. It was a “city within the city”.

In 1978, the complex was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument, and in 1997 it was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Pere and Ramon Marull were two of the hospital’s most important benefactors. Their funding made it possible to create a series of innovative laboratories in the fields of biochemistry, haematology and anatomic pathology. These new spaces were the first of their kind in Barcelona, and represented a massive step forward in the study of diseases. To express the hospital’s gratitude to its two benefactors, there is a large plaque dedicated to them at the main door of the Nostra Senyora de Montserrat building.

Come and visit this architectural gem – you’ll be amazed!

March 15, 2014