Category: Architectural Styles

The front facade of the Surgery Pavilion (Casa d’Operacions) is incredibly elaborate with sculptures galore. The doorway features two angels by Paul Gargallo in that distinctive Art Nouveau style. Two spectacular open-mouthed winged dragons protect the emblems on the first-floor balcony and support the two lions that represent the Hospital de la Santa Creu and the City of Barcelona.

On the balcony above the entrance gallery there are several angels and the frontage is crowned by an angel with wings unfolded seemingly about to take flight. Two winged lions sit below.

And on the corners are winged monsters which symbolise the forces of the unknown world, of negativity and of death.

Finally another view of the site from the Administration Pavilion with the Surgery Pavilion in the centre and the open layout of the gardens. In front you can just about make out a replica of the cross which formerly stood in the middle of the Gothic cloister at the Hospital de la Santa Creu (1401).

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Source: All the information in these Sant Pau posts is taken from the admission booklet. 

How to get there:
Metro: L5 Sant Pau / Dos de Maig or L2 to Sagrada Familia and walk up Avenue de Gaudi
Bus: H8, 19, 20, 45, 47, 50, 51, 92, 117, 192

La Puríssima was built between 1905 and 1912 and was used for General Surgery and Neurology.

I love the way each pavilion has its own private garden. Orange and lemon trees and lavender fill the beds around the sweeping steps.

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Source: All the information in these Sant Pau posts is taken from the admission booklet. 

How to get there:
Metro: L5 Sant Pau / Dos de Maig or L2 to Sagrada Familia and walk up Avenue de Gaudi
Bus: H8, 19, 20, 45, 47, 50, 51, 92, 117, 192

When you first enter the site and see these wonderful restored buildings you may think they are all the same. Look carefully at the roofs and the windows as they are of different styles and patterns. Some windows still have the original shutters.

The most prominent figure-symbol is the guardian angel, who may appear in the guise of a man, woman or child. Examine each of the statues on the pavilions as they have such angels guarding them.

And each of the water towers has the same decorative floral ceramic tiles at its base. But look at the upper ring of tiles and you will notice they are all different. The small domed roofs follow the same pattern: a main copper-coloured body of monochrome tiles closed off by three upper rings that converge on the stone lantern.

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Source: All the information in these Sant Pau posts is taken from the admission booklet. 

How to get there:
Metro: L5 Sant Pau / Dos de Maig or L2 to Sagrada Familia and walk up Avenue de Gaudi
Bus: H8, 19, 20, 45, 47, 50, 51, 92, 117, 192

This pavilion dates from 1905 – 1912 and was used for Maternity, Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

After over eighty years as the site of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau the Art Nouveau site has been transformed into a research centre with international organisations from Healthcare, Sustainability and Education. At present there are seven institutions housed on this complex. Lucky workers!

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Source: All the information in these Sant Pau posts is taken from the admission booklet. 

How to get there:
Metro: L5 Sant Pau / Dos de Maig or L2 to Sagrada Familia and walk up Avenue de Gaudi
Bus: H8, 19, 20, 45, 47, 50, 51, 92, 117, 192

The second of the two larger buildings to be restored was built between 1905 and 1912. The original use was for General Surgery for females.

The presence of stone sculpture is very important throughout the site. Capitals, floral details, corbels and structures all designed by the architect himself complete the varied decoration of the complex. Details such as delicate flowers embedded in the brick walls, niches, floral crowns on the capitals – each one different, despite their apparent uniformity – and reliefs on ventilation shafts are a sample of the varied work of the stonemasons.

The details are superb. All the shrines, angels, heads of angels and gargoyles in the form of animals on the complex were the work of Gargallo.

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Source: All the information in these Sant Pau posts is taken from the admission booklet. 

How to get there:
Metro: L5 Sant Pau / Dos de Maig or L2 to Sagrada Familia and walk up Avenue de Gaudi
Bus: H8, 19, 20, 45, 47, 50, 51, 92, 117, 192