Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

The origins of this institution date back to 1401, when six small hospitals in Barcelona merged to form the Hospital de la Santa Creu. By the late 19th century, the city's rapid growth and advances in medicine meant the old medieval building in the Raval district was no longer sufficient. This led to the ambitious project of building a new hospital on a much larger scale, funded by the legacy of the Catalan banker Pau Gil, who stipulated that the new facility should be named after Saint Paul and be a model of modern healthcare. Architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner was commissioned to design the new complex, which began construction in 1902. He envisioned a 'garden city' for the sick, moving away from the dark, cramped hospitals of the past toward an open, airy environment. The site consists of 27 pavilions decorated with vibrant mosaics, sculptures, and stained glass, all designed to promote the well-being of patients through beauty and nature. The project was so vast that it took nearly three decades to complete, with Domènech i Montaner's son eventually finishing the work in 1930. For nearly a century, the site served as a fully functioning hospital, witnessing the evolution of modern medicine in Spain. In 1997, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architectural significance. In 2009, medical operations moved to a modern building at the north end of the site, allowing the historic Art Nouveau complex to undergo a massive restoration. Today, it stands as the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau, a cultural center and museum that showcases the pinnacle of Catalan Modernisme.