The Former Santa Caterina Hospital
From the 13th century to the 21st century
The Former Santa Caterina Hospital is a building of medieval origin, with a history that extends from the 13th century to the beginning of the 21st century. Founded as a hospital for the poor thanks to popular initiative, it became one of the most important institutions in medieval Girona. Over the centuries, it was expanded and embellished with the donations that contributed to its growth.
The chapel of Santa Caterina, attached to the hospital, gave it the name by which it is known today. Until then, the building was called “New Hospital” (Hospital Nou). After several expansions during the 14th and 15th centuries, Philip II granted it the title of royal hospital in 1571. In 1654 it was decided to move it to a larger site and, in 1666, the foundation stone of the present building was laid. Over the years, the hospital continued to grow, including the construction of the House of Mercy (1765) and the Convalescence House (1785).
One of the most unique elements of the hospital was its pharmacy, considered one of the most important emsembles of the 17th and 18th centuries. Located on the ground floor, it preserves an impressive collection of more than 300 white glazed ceramic jars, mortars, blown-glass bottles and a rich library of medical treatises ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Particularly notable is the “cordialer”, a built-in cabinet set into the shelving where the most valuable medicines were stored. The room, rectangular in plan, is covered by a groin vault decorated with 19th-century allegorical paintings, which at the same time hide other mural paintings from the Baroque period.
The Girona Art Museum manages the heritage spaces of the former hospital and organizes monthly guided visists. These include the Magnolia Courtyard, with sgraffitos from the early 20th century; the interpretation space of the former hospital; the lobby, with 17th century wall tiles; the Baroque hospital pharmacy and the former chapel, where the painting El gran dia de Girona , by Ramon Martí i Alsina (1826-1894), is exhibited.
Today, the Former Santa Caterina Hospital houses the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia in Girona, maintaining its importance as a living testimony to the city’s history.
Visits to the heritage spaces offer the oportunity to understand the evolution of the building and discover one of the best-preserved hospital pharmacies in Europe. To participate, advance booking is required for the monthly guided visits listed in the agenda of the Girona Art Museum.
The old Episcopal Palace
The Art Museum is located in the exceptional setting of the former Episcopal Palace, first documented in the 10th century. The building still preserves several spaces that correspond to its original function, such as the prison, where clergymen condemned by the ecclesiastical court served sentences, and the majestic garden, which is occasionally open to the public.
The Girona Art Museum
The Girona Art Museum preserves and displays the most important art collection of the Diocese and the province of Girona. Located in the majestic Episcopal Palace beside the cathedral, it offers a unique journey through the history of Catalan art, from the Romanesque period to the artistic expressions of the 20th century.