Attraction
Sagrada Família
Antoni Gaudí's still-unfinished basilica in the Eixample, Barcelona's defining landmark, with a forest-like nave, two sculpted façades and climbable towers.
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
Domènech i Montaner's vast former hospital complex in El Guinardó, a garden campus of tiled pavilions and tunnels now open to visitors.
At a glance
- Type
- Modernista heritage site
- Area
- El Guinardó, Barcelona, Spain
- Official site
- santpaubarcelona.org
- Last checked
- October 23, 2026
Good to know
- Guided tours
- Gardens
Why we recommend it
Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner as a hospital that would heal through light, air and beauty, Sant Pau is the largest Modernista ensemble in the city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Patients were treated here until the hospital moved to new buildings next door, after which the pavilions were restored.
The visit takes in the administration building with its mosaic-lined hall, restored ward pavilions and the underground tunnels that once linked them. It is generally calmer than the Gaudí sites, and the gardens are pleasant on a sunny day. It is a short walk up Avinguda de Gaudí from the Sagrada Família, and the site can close in severe weather.
Reviewed by Lifestylemetro · Details checked October 23, 2026
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista FAQs
Who designed Sant Pau?
The architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
How far is it from the Sagrada Família?
It sits at the far end of Avinguda de Gaudí, a short walk from the basilica.