Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona: The Largest Art Nouveau Complex

The largest Art Nouveau complex in the world is a Barcelona hospital with a 600-year-long history. Sant Pau (Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau) in Barcelona is a unique complex with arches, paintings, and mosaics, massive windows, surrounded by impeccable landscaping and ornate statues of angels.

Catalan architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner designed the site, which would represent the merging of six of Barcelona’s hospitals. Domènech designed the 27-building complex that took up the equivalent of around nine city blocks to be interconnected by underground tunnels. Sixteen of the structures were built in the Modernist style. It was completed in 1930. Each building represents a different medical specialty.

The site, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, renovated and reopened to the public in 2014 and now serves as spaces for events, meetings, and tours of the Art Nouveau style.

Barcelona's Hidden Gem by Rudy Mareel on 500px.com

Rudy Mareel

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Sant Pau Recinte Modernista by Josep Vallès on 500px.com

Josep Vallès

Sant Pau Hospital barcelona

Rober Ramos

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