Hospital de las Cinco Llagas

The ancient Hospital de las Cinco Llagas (Cinco Llagas Hospital), also known as Hospital de la Sangre (Blood Hospital), currently houses the main headquarters of the Parliament of Andalusia. Its construction began in 1546, at the request of Don Fadrique Enríquez de Ribera. It was designed by Martín de Gainza, who managed its construction until his death, in 1556. Two years later, his role was taken by Hernán Ruiz II, who was in charge of continuing the process. The inauguration of the building, although incomplete, took place two years later. The building has a rectangular shape and it is articulated around ten patios, courtyards, from which only nine were constructed. Nowadays, only eight of these patios are still preserved.

The building’s most distinguishing element is, undoubtedly, its church, located in the central patio of the left area, isolated. It has a Latin shape cross and Renaissance character. The church is higher than the rest of the building. In its interior is where the plenary sessions take place. We highlight its altarpiece -retablo mayor-, constructed by Diego López Bueno with paintings by Alonso Vázquez and designed by Asensio de Maeda.

The building was used as a hospital until 1972. After years of abandonment, in 1986 the planning project of its conversion in the current Parliament of Andalusia started. It was inaugurated on 28 February 1992 (the day of Andalusia). The building’s total restoration was completed in 2003, with the completion of the restoration of the patios and rooms which had not been restored during the 1980s. Martín de Gainza built the Western patios, the facades and the towers, without the finishing.

Of an exquisite refinement and classicism, its rationality and moderation was used as a model for a new type of architecture, which contrasted with the Seville of that time, an old jumbled and chaotic medieval city located inside its walls; representing one of the best samples of Renaissance architecture of Andalusia.