World’s Most Beautiful Hospital: Sant Pau, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

The Sant Pau Art nouveau site is off the very beaten path of the modernist landmarks of Barcelona. A stone’s throw away from La Sagrada Familia, it is an impressive hospital that was built in the early 20th century and one of the most beautiful examples of modernist architecture.

At the turn of the 20th century, the population of Barcelona was rapidly growing and lacking a modern hospital. The 1401 Santa Creu hospital (the hospital of the Holy Cross) that had been in function for five centuries in the gothic heart of Barcelona was outdated. A new hospital was greatly needed.

Born and raised in Barcelona, and living in Paris where he got inspired by Lariboisière, the banker Paul Gil i Sera (1816-1896) became a generous benefactor and devoted a big part of his fortune to the construction of a new modern hospital in his hometown. It will take almost 30 years to be completed thanks to Paul Gil, and also other families and anonymous benefactors whom chipped in once the money ran out in 1912, 10 years after the start of the construction (and hardly a fourth into the original plan).

The outstanding modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1849-1923), politically engaged for the Catalan nationalism, and one of the teachers of Gaudí and alike was in charge. In 1902, he starts the construction of Sant Pau, at the edge of town in the middle of fields. The fear of the cholera epidemics of the 19th century made it an obvious choice to build the hospital away from the city centre, in the new and modern El Eixample neighbourhood. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).