The Historical Conclave of the Hospital de Sant Pau is hosting a new exhibition covering some of the most important historical moments of the construction of the Modernista complex. It also focuses on the restoration project which is currently underway. You can visit the exhibition by following the guided routes of "Sant Pau en obres" (Saint Paul Under Construction) which are offered every morning from Monday to Sunday.
The collection of snapshots comprise a selection of historical photographs and diverse reproductions of the original plans which Domènech i Montaner drew up by hand in the early 20th century. In this way, visitors can get an idea of the vast number of studies and trials the architect produced when designing the buildings in the Conclave while appreciating the ornamental elements that have made Sant Pau a world reference in Modernisme.
These photos illustrate the evolution the Conclave has undergone over the years and how the city´s physiognomy has also changed, especially the neighbourhoods of Guinardó and Sagrada Família.
The last part of the exhibition centres on the evolution of the renovation project. Among other aspects, it shows the changes that two of the pavilions have experienced, those that have now been fully renovated: Santa Apol·lònia (St Apollonia) and Sant Jordi (St George).You can also get a close-up view of life-size reproductions of Sant Pau´s most significant decorative elements: rosettes, dosserets, pinnacles and glazed-tile roofs. Furthermore, several information panels explain the laborious tasks being undertaken by artisans at work on Sant Pau to restore all these stone and pottery pieces, along with the windows and mosaics.
The Sant Pau International Project
The renovation work enables the recovery of Sant Pau´s heritage and artistic value. It opens the site to the city, preparing it to become a knowledge centre of reference worldwide, where diverse international, national and local institutions can work jointly to provide an answer to the challenges of the 20th century. Education, health and sustainability will be the main spheres of action, with a geographic space as its preferential area of reference: the Mediterranean.
The project to rehabilitate the Historical Conclave of Sant Pau has a budget of 105 million euros, financed mainly by contributions from the Operating Programme of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for Catalonia 2007-2013, the Spanish government, the Government of Catalonia, local administrations and the Fundació Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.
Extension of the guided visit routes
The photo exhibition forms part of the "Sant Pau en obres" guided visits, included in the Barcelona Modernisme Route which the Institut del Paisatge Urbà (Urban Landscape Institute) at the Barcelona City Council is organising.
These guided visits start at the Sant Jordi Pavilion, which is now fully restored. Since late July, visitors have also been able to stroll through one section of the kilometre of tunnels where the new exhibition is installed.
Thanks to the opening of this new tourist route, visitors also take a short stroll down the Conclave´s central avenue, where they can check on the progress of the renovation work on the Central Pavilion (former operating theatres) and the Administration Pavilion, the most important building in Domènech i Montaner´s architectural conclave.
The guided visit finalises with a look at the Conclave church, the Portal de Santa Marta, the exterior of the Convent and the Sant Rafael Pavilion, in which visitors can appreciate its original interior space.
For further information about opening times and prices: www.rutadelmodernisme.com
The Route
