Step inside Sant Pau Hospital.

In the early 1900s, visionary architect Domènech i Montaner built something radical. On the site of a medieval hospital he designed a modern hospital that would provide patients with architectural and natural beauty that would help heal their spirits. It was an unheard of concept back then and it still feels revolutionary; explore the magnificent Art Nouveau complex that he devised.

The property comprises 12 pavilions, and includes underground tunnels and a sense of style that is characterized by mosaic art, colored roof tiles, intricate arches and fun, playful lines. There are courtyards and greenery that reflect Montaner’s conviction that flowers and trees could help patients more than a conventionally sterile environment. It’s a masterpiece, but not in the forbidding sense.

The building was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, and the hospital is now located in the north-east of the district.