Normally, I don’t associate the words “fun” and “hospital visit”, but the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona is an incredibly fun day out. A little while ago, I posted a video of the cool hospital, and now I finally got around to editing my photos too! This is the biggest Art Nouveau complex in the world, and it’s well worth a visit if you’re in Barcelona.
(Note: it’s officially the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Complex).Â
Even though it’s a totally spectacular building, it’s not super famous because it only recently re-opened to the public. That meant for one weekend it was totally and completely free. It nearly felt like I was stealing something getting in the complex without paying anything.
Previously, I’d only seen the outside of the building, because the rest of it had been covered for years. Going inside, I was definitely not disappointed.
The day we went was the big opening weekend, so they had actors dressed up as doctors and nurses who diagnosed you with an ailment as you walked through the door, lots of times shouting that you need to see a psychiatrist right away.Â
As I walked through the halls of the building, I kept finding myself marveling that it was actually a working hospital until fairly recently. It looks more like a palace than a place for the sick…although if you were sick, this definitely wouldn’t be a bad place to stay!
They also added little touches around the complex to make it a nicer place for residents to stay. The courtyard, for instance, is dotted with orange trees to add some healthy green space to the patio. And there are lots of little tunnels running underneath the buildings to help hospital staff move things more efficiently. There’s over a kilometer of those tunnels, and they moved everything from the patients’ medications and meals to the patients themselves.
As this is a modernist building, there are also lots of little nods to nature in the details on the building. If you keep a keen eye out, you might be able to spot little animals perching on top of the little towers and turrets, mixed in with some gargoyles and saints for good measure.
Architect LluÃs Domenech i Montaner designed the hospital. His much more famous project is the Palau de la Música Catalana, which is similarly spectacular. I actually liked the hospital more though, and it helps that the visits to the hospital are about half the price! It’s strange that an architect who could create something like this is just the “other” guy from Barcelona who does that modernist stuff, but it’s hard to be competing against GaudÃ.
Speaking of GaudÃ, as you walk back out towards the front of the hospital to leave, you get a rather fabulous view of the Sagrada Familia outlined by the Hospital de Sant Pau. The hospital is just up the street from the crazy church. Although it may not get as much attention, they’ve managed to build it much faster. Maybe they should get those construction guys on the Sagrada Familia project!
Even though a visit to the hospital usually isn’t associated with positive things, the Hospital de Sant Pau is a very nice way to spend the day in Barcelona!
Practical information for visiting the Hospital de Sant Pau:Â
Address: C/Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167 (metro stop:Â Sant Pau/Dos de Maig)
Phone: (+34) 935 537 801
E-mail: visites.recinte@santpau.cat
Website:Â https://www.lapedrera.com/ca/home
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (November- March); 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (April-October). Sunday: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (year round)
Besos!
-Jess
Ooooh I can’t wait to check this place out if I make it over to Catalunya next spring! Thanks again for spreading the word about the Hospital with us; I wouldn’t have ever known about it otherwise!
You’re welcome. 😀 I think it’s not super famous because it was closed for so long, but that miiiight just change now.
And they say Barcelona is about GaudÃ, I think they just proved that it´s not always like that…beautiful place!!!!
There is definitely way more to Barcelona than GaudÃ, even though he gets all the credit.
Incredible! I can’t believe this place was a hospital! I have to say, I like this better than Gaudi’s work. Is that sacrilegious? I just love the colorful tile work and whimsical animals!
I love the hospital too! I think the architect deserves just as much credit as GaudÃ. Too bad Domenech i Montaner doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as easily! 🙂
Wow! This looks amazing. I wish North American hospitals were as people friendly and not so much like an institution. I will be sure to check it out when I get back to Barcelona!
It really is, Darlene! It’s a really fun place to visit.
Great post with beautiful photos! It’s such an amazing landmark. I look forward to returning some day to see it.
Thanks, Jennifer!
I think I like this more than Gaudi’s work too. Gaudi is crazy, flamboyant, and totally in your face and while it is really cool, it can get exhausting to look at. I like this style better, more understated and I love the brick on the building’s facade.
I agree! It’s so crazy that this is the ‘understated’ version in Barcelona though. It would definitely be very, very overstated in my city. 🙂
What a stunning building! It’s so good to see that they have preserved it and opened it up for all to see rather than revamping or demolishing. Another interesting place to add to my Barcelona list!
Yes, it was a great move on their part! I can’t imagine demolishing a beautiful place like this.
That is gorgeous! I wish I had seen this when we were in Barcelona.
Guess you’ll just have to make another trip then? 🙂
This has go to be the first instance where you actually want to end up in the hospital. I wonder what insurance providers would make of that. I absolutely love Barcelona and the tiled-architecture, I haven’t seen anything equivalent anywhere else in the world, and even then, in places like Morocco, it’s a completely different style.
Right? Landing up in the hospital in Barcelona isn’t so bad if you get to go somewhere like this. 🙂
I haven’t seen art/architecture like the stuff in Barcelona anywhere else either.
I saw this briefly while in Barcelona but didn’t get a chance to actually check it out. It looks incredible- but definitely not like a hospital, I totally agree with the palace comment. Although if you were to get sick if you stayed her you would be sick with style! Love that they created a little skit and role play for the re-opening, so fun!
Yeah, it does look much more spectacular than a hospital really should! It was so much fun to visit.
What a cool place! It totally doesn’t make me think of a hospital! I love the design! Beautiful!
Me too! It’s so unlike any other hospital I’ve seen.
Beautiful architecture, which is not a surprise, since it IS Barcelona. Nice theme, visiting a hospital. Love it.
Bit of a different tourist experience, eh? 😀
I can’t believe I passed up on this place the last two times I’ve visited Barcelona! I read about it, but never realised how beautiful and quirky it is. The art and decor looks fantastic, love your photos, especially the roof tile details.
Thanks, Paul! It’s actually only just re-opened, so it may not have been open to visitors when you were here.
Barcelona is filled with so many amazing places to see. Who would of thought that inside a hospital you would find such beautiful artwork. I love Gaudi’s buildings throughout Barcelona.
Me too! This one isn’t by GaudÃ, but I think it’s just as spectacular.
Oh my, who knew hospital visits could be fun indeed and I hate hospitals. This is such a beautiful place. I would be trigger happy with a camera with such a beautiful building in my sight.
I know, I could have spent all day there taking pictures!
Beautiful photos! I absolutely loved visiting here too, Barcelona is full go hidden gems like this!
Thanks, Sarah! This might by my favorite “hidden gem” in Barcelona – not that many people know about it still.
Ooooh I can’t wait to check this place out if I make it over to Catalunya next spring! Thanks again for spreading the word about the Hospital with us;