Barcelona Photoblog: sant pau
Showing posts with label sant pau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sant pau. Show all posts

February 08, 2021

Sant Pau Hospital: A History of Fervent Passion and Anonymous Endeavor

Sant Pau hospital detail a history of passion and endeavor
 
Amidst the weird silence imposed by this pandemic disgrace, these stone marvels strike us as significant reminders of past religious devotion, of saints like Santa Eulalia (hanging up there on this side of the Modernist compound of Sant Pau Hospital - Cartagena street façade), of the fervent passion and disinterested endeavor of women and men who invested their lives in that of others not only to seek salvation but out of pure love for their peers.
 
Sant Pau Hospital
 
Thanks to the skillful hands of Catalan artists who set out to venerate these acts of faith against the wrath of merciless plagues, against the paradox of so much suffering cast upon the human race, we can remember them and resume this endless fight on the very places where we once perished.  
 


From here we, your descendants. shall honor your lives and rise on our knees to overcome this Covid mess, just like you banished your misfortune one day, in unison and anonymously for the sake of our fellow men.  



March 27, 2014

Catalan Modernist Ceiling at Hospital de Sant Pau to Celebrate Barcelona Photoblog's 2.000.000 visits!



This is one of the ceilings inside one of the many pavilions in the modernist complex at Hospital de Sant Pau.

All buildings have been restored  and opened to the public inside a complex called Recinte Modernista. Now a small fee is charged to enter and admire these beauties reborn.

This and other pictures I have, were taken with a cellphone and do not make justice to the real thing. The impression I get when I take a look at the result of such magnificent restoration is that everything has turned back to be like brand new, as if the hands of the skillful craftsmen had been working on those mosaics and those stain glasses yesterday.

A whole range of architectural wonder has been unveiled for all the world to see.

(By the way, I am happy to announce that today Barcelona Photoblog has reached 2.000.000 visits since it first saw light back in 2006. It's been years of hard work and of meeting very nice people here at the blog. I hope you have enjoyed it somehow. That really means something to me. Thanks to all those that made this incredible figure come true, thanks for your time and your comments. Happy to share my modest work with you all)

Update: In 2017 Barcelona Photoblog reached almost the 3 M figure but I decided to stop using the website that kept track of my visits.

October 06, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI Visiting Barcelona in November, 2010

Detail of religious man modernista mosaic at Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona

Maybe some of you still don't know that Pope Benedict XVI will stop in Barcelona next November, 2010 during his two-day stay in Spain.

Yes, His Eminence is visiting us to consecrate Sagrada Familia. As I've said many times, I'm not a religious man although I believe there is something or so says my Facebook profile.

What that field of energy, entity, dimension, realm, plasma, astral world could be is beyond my imagination and I tend to look at it from the heart aka soul.

I studied some philosophy, and believe me, it was kind of materialistic and agnostic. If I try to explain the world according to those teachings, everything is so damn logical! Besides, I believe in science, in the big bang theory, I accept that the universe is not finite with the same innocent faith that many others accept God, that is, I cannot explain it but I accept it.

I also accept Darwin and oppose 'new' creationist theories, specially some conservative people behind them! But,hey, in spite of all that, it would be so great that there is life after death, that you could go to a parallel place somehow. As you grow older it is not strange that you seek some spirituality to find answers, to get some peace of mind.

My spirituality as you see is far from the main stream of religion. In fact, it is nothing but a tiny affluent, but it works for me and so, I live in communion with this universe and beyond. If faith in the unknown makes you happy in this life no matter how absurd its nature is then let's welcome mysticism but beware of blind faith, beware of institutions, of powers, cause that is a creation of man.

Oh, I almost forgot, yes, the Pope is visiting our city. Did you know that besides Sagrada Familia, the visit will include a center called Obra Benefico Social del Nen de Deu and that is about five blocks away from my house! According to a Spanish cardinal 500,000 people will receive Pope Benedict, 30,000 chairs will be placed outside the cathedral and 6,500 will be allowed inside the church...It is not hard to calculate that if Sagrada Familia will be crowded then the scenario in my small Nou Barris quarter is going to be chaotic and apocalyptic.

By the way, the image today is a detail of one of the mosaics on the façade of Sant Pau Hospital near Gaudi's famous cathedral.

September 22, 2010

Clock Tower Detail, Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona

Clock on Sant Pau Hospital's church spire

Sant Pau Hospital is by far one of the most spectacular examples of Catalan Art Nouveau or what is known as Modernisme.

Plenty of posts in Barcelona Photoblog fully cover this historical place from almost every angle.

At the main entrance, you face a graceful spire, rather thin if compared with similar church architectural structures in my opinion and taking into account the considerable dimensions of its clock.

I've seen many images of the entrance and the remarkable spire but I always wondered what it would look like from a very short distance.

This is the result.

In case you want to know more about Sant Pau Hospital by Lluis Domenech i Montaner and other artists please check: Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau posts or all the images in one set on Flickr.

November 01, 2009

Hospital de Sant Pau: Modernista Turret

Hospital de Sant Pau: Modernista Turret in Modernist Complex or recinte modernista de Sant Pau

To welcome the new week enjoy this beautiful modernista turret inside Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau many times featured in this blog.

If you want to know more check previous posts by using Sant Pau label below

July 20, 2009

Sant Pau Hospital: A Touch of Fresh Air in Architecture

Art Nouveau ventilation turret in Sant Pau hospital Modernista complex

If you want to see a good sample of Catalan art nouveau take a walk inside Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.

I have mentioned this jewel of modernist architecture before in many posts. I just want you to stop and take a look at the details.

There are some small ventilation towers or art nouveau chimney stacks that do deserve some of your time.

Adorned in a very similar way to nearby cupolas with overlapped fish scale-like tiles they carry some extra decoration that makes them stand out from the rest of motifs on the roof and part of the façade. Notice the use of tiny gargoyles to deviate water from the duct and bigger yellow tiles to embellish the box where the vents are. I particularly like those two stars which give it this sort of bizarre look.

These turrets were made just for ventilation purposes because the heating, water, gas and electricity services are installed in the open.  

Domenech i Montaner, the architect behind these magnificent buildings, made emphasis on the human factor, on the well being of patients so fresh air, obtained thanks to this innovative system of natural ventilation, was a priority within the isolated, one-storey pavilions surrounded by gardens. In fact, pavilions are connected by underground corridors that were used to transport patients and for some medical services thus keeping the atmosphere on the surface much cleaner and less noisy.

February 09, 2009

Sant Pau Hospital: Cupolas

Tiled Cupola at Modernista complex in former Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona

Can you imagine a hospital with buildings like this?

Think of a central square with colorful flowers and bloomed orange trees surrounded by brick wall pavilions crowned with beautiful Art Nouveau cupolas and literally covered with sculptures and assorted architectural adornments. That is not a dream, it exists. You only have to visit Sant Pau Hospital (Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau).

Maybe you would say: "No way, I don't like hospitals". Well, the pavilions are not functional anymore so they will not admit you as a patient. Just enter through the main gate on Cartagena street, one block away from L5 blue subway line. You can sit on a bench there, take a lot of wonderful pictures and most of all, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the place. When you leave you won't have the feeling you visited a hospital but the certainty that you have been in contact with a beautiful past.

December 15, 2008

Sant Pau Hospital's Gates: Modernist Ironwork

Sant Pau Hospital's Gates: Modernist  Ironwork

This is a detail of one of the angels and the holy cross on top of Hospital de Sant Pau main gates. I enhanced the rusty surface of the ironwork which was already bathed in the last rays of the afternoon sun. Check this old post where there is another snap of the holy cross.

Now we are going to open the gates of your visit to one of the most renowned works of Domenech i Montaner and a magnificent representative of Catalan Modernisme.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the modernista complex of Sant Pau.

Here is the:

Top List of Things to Learn about Modernism and Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau


December 14, 2008

Modernist Wall Adornment, Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona

Modernist wall adornment and symbol at Hospital de Sant Pau Modernista complex,Barcelona

This elaborate modernist wall adornment can be found on one of the pavilions of old Sant Pau hospital.

If you've never been there check Sant Pau's exact location on Google Map and go visit the place. It is just one subway stop away from Sagrada Familia taking the blue line. You can even get to this modernist complex on foot if you walk all the way up along Avinguda Gaudi from Sagrada Familia.

I wonder what that symbol in the center of the image means. I have read that the monumental lettering as well as part of the mosaic and sculptures make reference to the story of the holy cross and the name of the Hospital's benefactor, banker Pau Gil Serra, who donated the land. So I think this could be a G in the picture but I am not quite sure.

December 13, 2008

Modernist Sculpture inside Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona

Modernist Archangel Sculpture inside Sant Pau Hospital modernist complex

This is another image taken inside Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau built by Domenech i Montaner.

You can see here a detail of one of the sculptures by Eusebi Arnau and Pau Gargallo.

Notice the sober angular cuts which evoke those in the sculptural groups by Josep Maria Subirachs in the Passion façade (Sagrada Familia)

December 11, 2008

Mosaic at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona

Sant Jordi Killing the Dragon, Mosaic at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Modernista complex, Barcelona

The Saint Paul hospital (Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau) was projected by Domenech i Montaner in 1901 and the mosaics in particular were designed by Francesc Labarta.

I have written several posts talking about Sant Pau Hospital's history so I think you'd better check the labels below.

The following post was one of the most popular: Modernisme in Hospital de Sant Pau

December 05, 2007

Modernist Window, Fundació Dr. Robert, Sant Pau Hospital

Stained glass window at Casa de Convalescencia, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona

Not so spectacular as the stained glass windows in previous posts but attractive to the eye as well, this modernist window is overlooking the staircase inside Casa de Convalescencia (Fundació Dr. Robert) in Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona.

December 04, 2007

Modernist Stained Glass Windows: Fundacio Dr. Robert, Barcelona

Modernist Stained Glass Windows: Fundacio Dr. Robert, Casa de Convalescencia de Sant Pau, Barcelona

Inside Fundació Dr. Robert in Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona you can see these beautiful stained glass windows around the cupola of the aula magna building.

October 16, 2007

Casa de Convalescencia, Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona

Stained glass interior of modernist dome, Aula Magna of Casa de Convalescencia, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona

Casa de Convalescència, on the corner of San Quintin and Maria Claret streets, is part of Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and was built by Pere Domènech i Roura, Lluís Domènech i Montaner's son. Pere Domenech was a cathedratic professor at the School of Architecture of Barcelona and architect director of the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.

Meant to be a maintenance building it finally lodged the wards for terminal patients and a church.

Back in 1969 it was granted to UAB (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona). At present it is the headquarters of Fundació UAB, Fundació Doctor Robert and Josep Laporte library, UAB Idiomes Barcelona (language school), Institut de Ciències de l'Educació and Escola de Doctorat i de Formació Continuada.

This representative of the last stages of Catalan Art Nouveau or modernisme is the perfect place for important events in the health field which in fact are held more than often in its high quality facilities.

Today's picture was taken inside the Aula Magna, a place that is not open to general public. Tourists are only allowed in the entrance hall on the way to the hospital venues.

I wanted to share this beauty with all of you, the amazing brick work of the dome and the light coming through the elaborate stained glass windows.

See also this link to all my posts featuring Sant Pau Hospital.

July 29, 2007

Cross at Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

Cross and Pavilion at Modernista Complex of Hospital de la Sant Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain

This cross is located in one of the parks inside Sant Pau Hospital. 

Remember you can admire Catalan art nouveau buildings like the one in the background if you visit the modernista complex not far away from Sagrada Familia. 

There are previous posts dealing with Sant Pau or San Pablo in Barcelona Photoblog so I recommend you browse my site for more. 

You will find out about the history behind the buildings or the works of the architect, Domenech i Montaner. As for example: Pillars of Catalan Art Nouveau in Palau de la Musica Catalana.

June 30, 2007

Orange and Yellow Flowers at Sant Pau Hospital

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Beautiful small orange and yellow flowers which I have seen many times before but I can't identify myself. I can tell you where I found them though: Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Of course they are quite common and grow in many more places. If you happen to know the name please let me know.

February 27, 2007

Catalan Modernisme: Ceiling at Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona

Catalan Modernisme: Ceiling at Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona


Also by Domenech i Montaner, the renowned representative of Catalan modernist architects, Hospital de Sant Pau is a small jewel frequently overlooked by tourists. 

This is the ceiling at the main entrance on the corner of Cartagena and Maria Claret streets. 

If you browse the labels you will find information about the architect and the Hospital.

September 05, 2006

Catalan Modernisme: Sant Pau Hospital's Ceiling

Catalan Modernisme: Sant Pau Hospital's Ceiling


Catalan Modernisme and Hospital de Sant Pau are also themes commented in previous posts that you can explore on this site. This is an old cellphone picture. 

Gothic cross-vaulted ceilings used to house the administration department, kitchen and laundry in Sant Pau, not it is open to the public and patients were moved to the new hospital nearby.
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