Hospital de los Reyes Católicos, Historic hospital in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The Hospital de los Reyes Católicos is a former pilgrims' hospital built in the Plateresque style, organized around four interior courtyards that serve as the structural and visual heart of the complex. The rectangular layout combines functional medieval hospital design with ornate carved doorways and stone details throughout its walls.
Construction started in 1492 under architect Enrique Egas and was funded by the Catholic Monarchs from revenues collected through the Voto de Santiago, a form of pilgrimage tax. The building rose during Santiago de Compostela's peak as one of Europe's greatest pilgrimage destinations.
The main entrance displays stone carvings of biblical figures alongside portraits of the Catholic Monarchs, reflecting how royal power and religious mission shaped the building's identity. Visitors can see how these decorative elements announce the hospital's dual purpose as both a sanctuary and a royal institution.
Today it operates as a five-star Parador hotel, so guest rooms occupy much of the building while courtyards and the chapel remain accessible to visitors at certain times. Early morning visits typically offer easier access to the public spaces and fewer crowds.
A 16th-century chain supported by carved stone pillars stands at the building's entrance and once marked the property boundary between the hospital and the city. This unusual marker reveals how the institution asserted its legal separation from urban authority.
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