Our story

Although the exact date of its founding is unknown, the Hospital of San Sebastián in Palma del Río began its operations in the early 15th century; however, the founding papal bull was issued by Pope Julius II in Rome on September 5, 1508.

In 1521, it became the sole hospital in Palma del Río following the consolidation of all existing hospitals in the town. Consequently, it was decided to demolish the old San Sebastián building and erect a new one to provide facilities that were larger and better equipped than the previous ones. Additionally, the old church was demolished and a new one built. The new complex also included the construction of a cloister, new infirmaries, and other facilities.

During the Civil War (1936–1939), the site housed a military hospital that treated prisoners. From 1953 onwards, the facilities began operating as a maternity home and a residence for the elderly—a function the latter still serves today. Following the Civil War, and at the initiative of the priest Carlos Sánchez Centeno, the hospital came under the management of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The hospital is a complex structure that has evolved through various additions in diverse architectural styles. The church features a typical Mudéjar design with a single nave and a square apse, separated by a magnificent, ornate, semicircular triumphal arch. However, it is the beautiful, landscaped cloister courtyard that captures the visitor’s attention. Its white marble columns and soaring galleries lend it a unique elegance and solemnity, where the days pass amidst the murmur of the fountain and the conversations of the residents, as the historic building now coexists with a modern residence for the elderly.