Hospital de Nuestra Senora del Carmen (Hospital of Our Lady of Carmen), Cadiz

The Hospital of Our Lady of Carmen is a leading example of mid-18th-century Andalusian Baroque architecture. Designed by Sevillian architect Pedro Luis Gutiérrez de San Martín, the building was inaugurated in 1749 and laid out around two courtyards, divided by an elegant Imperial staircase. Its three-part façade, adorned with Baroque flourishes and subtle Italianate elements, reflects the stylistic sophistication of civil architecture at the time.

Originally established to serve women in need, the hospital played a vital role during key moments in Cádiz’s history, including epidemics, wars, and natural disasters.

The building’s spiritual heart is the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, accessible from the street and featuring a hall-style layout with three equally high naves divided by marble Doric columns. The main altarpiece, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is Neoclassical in style, and the chapel also houses notable artworks, including El Greco’s "St. Francis's Vision of the Flaming Torch".