Old Hospital de la Santa Creu, Barcelona, Gothic architectural complex in El Raval, Spain
The Old Hospital de la Santa Creu is a Gothic complex with four two-story wings arranged around a central courtyard. The halls feature vaulted ceilings and galleries displaying detailed Gothic architectural elements.
King Martin the Humane ordered construction in 1401 to consolidate six separate hospitals into a single facility. The institution operated for over 500 years before closing in 1926 and taking on new cultural roles.
The complex now houses the National Library of Catalonia and the Institute for Catalan Studies, transforming it into a center of knowledge and research. These institutions give the medieval spaces a modern purpose while respecting their historical character.
The complex is located at Carrer Hospital 56 and is easily reached by metro line L3 at Liceu station. Multiple bus routes also serve the site, making it accessible from different parts of the city.
The complex contains an 18th-century anatomical amphitheater that remains intact within the Royal Academy of Medicine section. This preserved operating theater reveals how medical practice looked during that period.
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