Hospital de Santa Maria de Lleida, Gothic-Plateresque hospital near Cathedral Nova, Lleida, Spain.
The Hospital de Santa Maria de Lleida is a late Gothic building standing near the Cathedral Nova, characterized by stone walls, pointed arches, and a central courtyard overlooked by an ornate upper gallery. The structure unfolds across multiple levels, with the upper floor featuring decorative colonnades.
Pope Eugene IV approved the project in 1445, with construction beginning in 1459 to consolidate seven smaller medical facilities into a single central institution. This consolidation made it a major healthcare facility serving the city.
Today, the Institute of Lleidan Studies uses these former medical spaces to display exhibitions on regional art and history. The building itself has become a backdrop where visitors can see how a place designed for healing now serves cultural purposes.
Located at Plaza de la Catedral, the building welcomes visitors to explore its architectural features and exhibition spaces at no charge. Plan time to examine the stone details and central courtyard properly, and check ahead to see what exhibitions are currently on display.
The main facade displays multiple heraldic shields representing medieval Lleida and symbolizing the city's administrative authority from that era. These shields tell a story of urban identity through their placement and design on the building itself.
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