Description of the attraction
In the center of Almeria, next to the city's Cathedral, there is the hospital complex of St. Mary Magdalene. The historical significance of this building cannot be overestimated, since it is the only surviving civil architecture building in the city dating back to the 16th century.
The hospital was originally named after St. Mary's Hospital and was built on the initiative of Bishop Diego Fernandez Villalana. The building was constructed between 1547 and 1556, presumably under the direction of the famous Spanish architect Juan de Orei. The famous architect Hernando de Salinas also took part in the construction of the hospital.
The hospital complex is represented by three buildings - the hospital itself, a chapel and an orphanage, which form a single composition in the form of the Latin letter U. Although some elements of the complex have been rebuilt several times, the main facade, facing north, has remained unchanged since its construction. Mostly the building of the hospital complex is designed in the Renaissance style, and its southern part, completed in the 18th century, was created in the neoclassical style. In the construction of the lower floor of the building, large hewn stones were used, the upper floor is made of smaller stones, and the corner parts are lined with bricks.
The chapel, built in 1885, has one nave in plan, crossed by an apse. The orphanage, dating from 1876, is a two-story building that has four galleries surrounding a cozy courtyard.
The Hospital of St. Mary Magdalene is recognized as a National Cultural Monument.
