Old Hospital of Saint Catherine
A magnificent 17th-century Baroque building that served as Girona's main hospital for over three centuries, the Old Hospital of Saint Catherine now functions as a cultural and administrative center, featuring a grand cloister and an impressive facade on Plaça de l'Hospital.
Welcome to the Old Hospital of Saint Catherine, where you stand before one of Girona's most remarkable examples of Baroque architecture and a testament to centuries of compassionate care. As you gaze up at this magnificent facade on Plaça de l'Hospital, you're looking at a building that has witnessed over three hundred years of the city's most intimate human stories. The hospital you see before you was constructed in the 17th century, though its origins trace back much further to medieval charitable institutions. This grand Baroque structure replaced earlier hospital buildings, reflecting the prosperity and architectural ambitions of Girona during the Spanish Golden Age. The imposing stone facade speaks to the importance placed on this institution by the city's wealthy merchants and religious orders, who funded its construction as an act of Christian charity and civic pride. Notice the elegant symmetry of the building's exterior, with its carefully proportioned windows and classical elements that define the Baroque style. The stonework displays the skill of local craftsmen who worked with Girona's characteristic golden limestone, creating a harmonious blend with the city's medieval architecture while asserting a distinctly 17th-century grandeur.