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Great architecture and very interesting history, as well. Worth of visiting if you have enough time.
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Date of experience: December 2019
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I think that 99% of tourists like me believe that the hospital is named after St. Paul, like many hospitals that have existed since the middle ages. Yes, in honor of Paul, but not that Paul. Catalan banker Pau Gil financed the construction of a new hospital. Of course, there was not enough money, so the Hospital de Sant Pau, like the main masterpiece of Catalan modernism, Sagrada Familia, was not fully built. However, unlike the Gaudi Cathedral, it doesn`t show this. It was also built for a long time from 1902 to 1930 in two stages. 13 modernist buildings were erected between 1902 and 1913 under the direction of the famous architect Domenech y Montaner in the first stage. His son Pere Domènech i Roura continued construction from 1920, shortly before the death of the ideologue of Catalan modernism. 6 buildings of moderate modernism were built at this stage. As Steve Jobs said: 'It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”. In our case, everything is fine with how Sao Pau looks and works. The complex is designed as a square (this is Eixample!) 300 by 300 meters. It consists of the main administrative building, a favorite of tourists, and 27 medical pavilions. All buildings are connected by underground galleries, so as not to take up space at the top. The garden city is located at the top. Smart decision, but expensive. At the same time, technical means (ventilation, transformers, etc.) are left in the open air to facilitate their maintenance. Tourists, of course, do not admire this, but the typical modernist decorations made of colorful ceramics and allegorical sculptures, the meaning of which is clear only with an audio guide. Domenech y Montaner brought in equally talented artists Francesc Labarta for paintings and mosaics, and sculptors Pablo Gargallo and Eusebio Arnau Josep Perpinyà to work with then-fashionable wrought iron elements. In our case, everything is fine with how Sao Pau looks and works. The complex is designed as a square (this is Eixample!) 300 by 300 meters. It consists of the main administrative building, a favorite of tourists, and 27 medical pavilions. All buildings are connected by underground galleries, so as not to take up space at the top. The garden city is located at the top. Smart decision, but expensive. At the same time, technical means (ventilation, transformers, etc.) are left in the open air to facilitate their maintenance. Another smart solution is to orient the main entrance at 45 degrees relative to the Eixample layout for airing the premises with the wind from the sea. The complex is organized along the North-South axis, which provides each patient with maximum sunlight. Tourists, of course, don`t admire this, but the typical modernist decorations made of colorful ceramics and allegorical sculptures, the meaning of which is clear only with an audio guide. Domenech y Montaner brought in equally talented artists Francesc Labarta for paintings and mosaics, and sculptors Pablo Gargallo and Eusebio Arnau Josep Perpinyà to work with then-fashionable wrought iron elements. Four expressionist statues of the young Pau Gargallo and a multicolored light window in the pseudo-Gothic ceiling of the second floor amaze tourists right away. The statues are allegories of Catholic virtues: faith, hope and charity, and the fourth, a work from the architect himself, is more in the spirit of Protestants. Domenech y Montaner made sure that after entering, the visitor said "Wow" again. The pavilions are built in height from the small ones at the entrance, to the highest ones at the end, forming a magnificent perspective. Many pavilions correspond to the same model, with an operating room under the dome and look like buildings in the Moorish style, but there are no two identical ones. The statues of the saints indicate the pavilions to the left of the statue of the Holy virgins represent women's pavilions, on the right side for men. After UNESCO listed Sant Pau as a world heritage site in 1997, the hospital was fully operational until 2009, when it moved to new buildings nearby. So now the sick citizens of Barcelona are not treated by the mosaics of Labart and the interiors of Luis Domenech y Montaner. What a pity! It would be nice to lie down for treatment surrounded by such interiors and surrounded by the care of Catalan nurses. But with some mild illness, not Covid-19.…
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Date of experience: December 2019
1 Helpful vote
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What a stunning building you can find only 10 minutes away from Sagrada Familia. It seems it is not yet discovered so much by mass tourism. I loved the museum and the premises.
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Date of experience: January 2020
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+1
During our time in Barcelona, my wife and I enjoyed visiting the various historical sites located throughout this iconic European city. We particularly enjoyed our guided tour of Hospital Sant Pau. This complex, which was built between 1901 and 1930, appeared to be more of a charming, welcoming village than a hospital complex. I learned that this hospital, which was still in operation up until 2009, was purposely constructed to be a welcoming and warm place for patients. The buildings have lots of glass which bring in light from sunshine and the interiors appear to be built for comfort as well as maximizing excellent patient care. From the Administration Building to the Operating Building as well as the other buildings are still well maintained and are now a museum. In addition, one of the large rooms within the complex is now utilized for musical performances. I can only imagine how special those performances must be. If only more hospitals around the world would be able to provide the high level of care provided by this hospital including a location on such a magnificent campus.…
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Date of experience: September 2019
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I read that this is a more recent attraction that sits high on the list of MUST DOs when visiting Barcelona. It was our early afternoon attraction sandwiched between some Gaudi visits. A tough act to follow, I I was totally blown away! The photos are amazing, but do not to it justice. It was only a short walk from our apartment, so we were lucky enough to see it lit up at night as well. Sant Pau continues as a work in progress and is in the grounds of a fully functioning hospital, some areas of which are still in these amazing old buildings. Given what I'd read about it, we decided not to buy tickets in advance and that proved to be a good decision. The tourist traffic was quite low, but I'm sure this will change as more people become aware of it.…
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Date of experience: October 2019
1 Helpful vote
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