Antiguo Hospicio de Oviedo (Old Hospice of Oviedo), Oviedo

The Old Hospice of Oviedo, now operating as the five‑star Hotel Reconquista is a notable example of 18th-century Spanish Baroque architecture. Commissioned in 1752 by Isidoro Gil de Jaz, the regent of Asturias, the complex was originally conceived as a combined hospice, orphanage, and work institution to support impoverished and orphaned children. Its founding mission included vocational training, aimed at integrating residents into employment-a forward-thinking form of early social welfare.

Designed mostly by architect Pedro Antonio Menéndez de Ambás, the building officially opened by Fernando VI, its principal façade is notable for seven graceful round arches beneath a richly sculpted Baroque shield. Due to erosion of the original soft sandstone crest, it was replaced in 1958 with an exact limestone copy to preserve its detail.

At the heart of the structure are two expansive internal courtyards-the Gil de Jaz courtyard and the Reina courtyard-featuring wooden galleries that evoke the layout and atmosphere of Old Castilian plazas. The centerpiece chapel, conceived in 1768 by the architect Ventura Rodríguez and executed by Manuel Reguera González, is circular inside and octagonal outside, crowned with a lofty dome adorned with ornamental coffers and floral motifs.

After decades of service under various social roles, including use as an emergency hospital during the Spanish Civil War, the building was restored in the mid-20th century and reopened as the Hotel Reconquista in 1972. Today, it serves as one of two key venues for the Princess of Asturias Awards, hosting distinguished guests and members of the royal family. Despite its transformation into a luxury hotel, much of its historic structure remains intact.