Sant Pau, the modernism that remains to be discovered
The Modernist Site of Sant Pau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a complete program of visits to discover the most important work of Lluís Domènech Montaner, the main architect of Catalan modernism.
The old Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, built between 1902 and 1930, housed the health facilities until 2009, when it was moved to its current location. Then began a great process of rehabilitation of the modernist complex that has allowed it to recover its heritage value and the original volumes, just as Domènech i Montaner designed it.
The brilliant architect built the hospital with a maxim, the well-being of the patients. Domènech firmly believed in the therapeutic power of beauty and this is how his work turned out, endowed with a great ornamental richness with a strong presence of nature, a recurring element in the modernists. The architect traveled throughout Europe to learn about the latest advances in hospital architecture and that is how he devised a garden city with independent pavilions and a whole series of techniques and solutions to guarantee the maximum presence of natural light and great ventilation.
Since the reopening of the Modernista Enclosure to the public, in 2014, an extensive program of visits has been developed, both free and guided, which allows the visitor to enjoy the architectural singularity and the artistic beauty of this city within the city. Likewise, you can learn about the history of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Private Foundation, a health institution that dates back to 1401, and how present it has been and continues to be for the city of Barcelona.
In addition to this program of artistic and heritage dissemination, the Modernist Campus wants to contribute to the artistic and cultural revitalization of Barcelona, and that is why it organizes various cycles of concerts and a program of conferences and specialized visits.