Ex Ospedale Civico di San Paolo, Former hospital in Savona, Italy
The ex Ospedale Civico di San Paolo is a palace-like building with a central two-story core and three wings of matching height. The layout creates four interior courtyards connected by lower structures that link the main sections together.
Construction started in 1847 after architect Carlo Sada won a public competition in 1843. The building opened in 1855 and served as the city's medical facility for many decades.
The name comes from the Saint Paul Brotherhood that founded the hospital to serve the city's poor and sick. You can still see the private chapel inside, which shows how faith and care for others shaped the building's purpose.
The layout with a central core and surrounding wings makes it easy to navigate and brings natural light into most spaces. The wide staircase and thoughtful design help visitors move smoothly between different areas.
The construction required special methods using alder tree trunks because workers discovered an underground spring at the site. This unexpected challenge shaped the engineering solutions the builders had to create.
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