Hospital de Mujeres y Capilla de Ntra. sr. del Carmen - Cadiz

The building is built around two courtyards separated by an original imperial staircase . The facade consists of three parts with Baroque decoration and Italian accents.

The main altarpiece of the Virgen del Carmen is neoclassical in style. To its right is a painting by El Greco , called "The Vision of the Flaming Torch".

In 1598 there was only one hospital in Cadiz called Misericordia, which was located in the public square. He cared for all the sick and wounded in the city and the ships that departed or arrived at the port of Cádiz, assisted by brothers from San Juan de Dios. It had 20 beds , 10 for fevers, 4 for convalescents, 4 for wounded and 2 for women, which in those years were completely insufficient for a population of an estimated 10,000 people. The situation became unbearable as Cadiz was a busy port city and homeless people were waiting for their crossing to the Indies. Sick and helpless women often died in the doorways of public buildings.

The Women's Hospital of Cádiz only emerged as an institution in the 17th century due to the incipient medical needs of the population, especially women. Initially it was located in today's Columela Street, until the urban and population growth of the city led to the facilities being inadequate and the construction of a new headquarters was proposed.

In its nearly three-hundred-year history, the hospital has welcomed thousands of patients "especially during important and severe events such as the epidemics of the 19th century, the African war, the disaster of 1998 or the Spanish civil war", and remained open until 1963, when it was economically unviable. and the then Bishop Antonio Añoveros Ataún was forced to close it.

It currently serves as the seat of the Diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta, and of the Caritas Institution.

Willem Vandenameele