Hospital of Simón Ruiz, 16th century hospital in Medina del Campo, Spain
The Hospital of Simón Ruiz is a 16th century building in Medina del Campo with a cloister courtyard framed by arcades featuring thick columns and rounded arches. Individual patient rooms, corridors, and garden spaces were organized to support medical care and recovery.
Construction began in 1593 and was completed in 1619, bringing together several smaller medical facilities into one central institution. This ambitious consolidation of medical care was significant for the city's development.
The chapel shows religious artwork with alabaster figures and baroque altarpieces that reflect the founder's faith and beliefs. The layout reveals how prayer and healing were linked together in daily life at that time.
The layout is easy to navigate, with clear pathways connecting the different areas throughout the building. Visitors should allow time to explore the courtyard and chapel, as both spaces have many details worth noticing.
The hospital pharmacy preserved 103 ceramic jars decorated with blue cobalt designs, now displayed at the Museum of the Fairs. This collection reveals the sophisticated medical practices of that era.
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