Hospital de Sant Pau: Gardens, Wonders & A Matchless Modernist Building

The modernist architect Domènech i Montaner started the Hospital de Sant Pau project in 1902. His ambitious project became a reality through the generous donation to the city by local aristocrat Pau Gil i Serra.

Domènech i Montaner wanted the hospital to be a place where patients and staff could find solace and healing.

He set out, above all, to avoid the sterile and institutional personality portrayed in the architecture of most hospitals.

He believed that if the patients were to recover they needed color, an agreeable environment, fresh air, trees and a solid sense of the earth.

Doménech i Montaner finished the hospital in 1910. Hospital de Sant Pau is considered to be one of the most significant works of Catalán Modernism, as well as the architect's masterpiece.

From the moment you first set eyes upon Hospital de Sant Pau, you can see that Domènech i Montaner succeeded in his desire to make the hospital a welcoming place of healing.

Mosaics of bright yellows, reds and greens adorn the sprawl of brick-red buildings. Windows wear a grid of green wooden panels.

Peaceful pathways give way to lush trees and gardens that transport you away from stodgy hospital stereotypes to a haven of calm.

Sculptures of angels and saints watch over walkways where the sick once wandered.

The hospital is home to 48 pavilions, millions of pieces of mosaic and brick, captivating creativity and a wealth of quiet spaces.

Natural light, the vivid colors and the many decorative and allegorical details make Hospital de Sant Pau a beautiful, original, Barcelona architectural attraction.

• In 1997, UNESCO named the hospital a World Heritage site.
• Workers used stone from nearby Montjuic during the construction process.
• It is the largest architectural project of "modernism", the Sagrada Familia being its only rival in size.
• Prior to its completion, Barcelona did not have an adequate general hospital.
• Most of the hospital's service areas and hallways are located underground so that patients can enjoy open, verdant above-ground spaces.
• The hospital's official name is Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau.

Opening Times for Hospital de La Santa Creu I Sant Pau:

Location & Contact Information

• Hospital de Sant Pau address: Carrer de Sant Quintí, 89, 08026 Barcelona
• Hospital de Sant Pau Phone Number: +34 93 268 2444
• Hospital de Sant Pau Directions: You can take the blue metro line to the "Sant Pau/Dos de Maig" stop. It is an 8-10 minute walk from there.