Hospital de San Juan, Granada

The San Juan de Dios Hospital is located on the Calle San Juan de Dios, in the centre of Granada. It was founded in the sixteenth century and is named in honour of local folk hero, Juan Ciudad Duarte. A humble bookseller, he devoted his life to caring for the sick and needy of Granada following a religious revelation. Duarte was later canonized, becoming San Juan de Dios, or Saint John of God. With the support of donations from the city’s wealthy middle classes, Juan Duarte founded a charity to provide longer term support for Granada’s vulnerable citizens. It was this fund that paid for the design and construction of the hospital.

The hospital is still in operation, and is the city centre’s largest and most important medical centre. The original hospital building is open to the public at no admission cost, and has become a very popular tourist attraction. This is due to its fine Renaissance architectural design. Features of particular interest include the elegant stone façade, and two colourful patios found within the building, depicting local landscape scenes. The hospital has been expanded in recent times and most medical facilities are now housed in the modern extension buildings.