Hospice architecture
Introduction
The Old Hospice of Oviedo is a historical-artistic monument located on Gil de Jaz Street in that city, in Asturias, Spain. Since 1972 it has housed the Hotel Reconquista and is one of the two main venues for the Princess of Asturias Awards along with the Campoamor Theatre.
History
Contenido
En 1752 se inicia la construcción del Hospital Hospicio de Oviedo por orden de Isidoro Gil de Jaz, regente de la audiencia del Principado de Asturias. Este propuso a la Corona un "Hospicio y Hospital de Huérfanos, Expósitos y Desamparados", con el objeto de recoger a huérfanos e inválidos y darles una instrucción que les permitiera desarrollar algún tipo de trabajo.
En 1942, la Diputación Provincial de Oviedo decidió restaurar el edificio. Desde 1972 alberga el llamado Hotel Reconquista, propiedad de la empresa HOASA, propiedad del Principado de Asturias.[1] En 1973 fue declarado Bien de Interés cultural.
[1][2] Es una de las principales sedes de la semana de los Premios Princesa de Asturias, acogiendo la recepción y estancia de los premiados y la familia real antes y después de la ceremonia. En 2020 y debido a la COVID-19, fue también la sede de entrega de los premios, a puerta cerrada.
Architecture
The main style of the facade is baroque. This façade, all made of ashlar, is crowned by a large central shield with meticulous details. This shield is a copy of the original, as it had been built in soft sandstone, so it had to be replaced by a limestone copy in 1958. This façade is almost contemporary with the Royal Hospice of Madrid. Above a porch with seven semicircular arches, with a spacious arcade along the entire line of the façade, rises the main floor, with seven other openings, the central one with a lowered arch with wrought iron balconies. The entire façade is finished by a carved stone railing, which finishes the cornice of the building. Inside there are two large patios: that of Gil de Jaz and that of the Queen, with wooden porticoed galleries. The wooden galleries that surround the patios; which, due to their layout and structure, bring together the characters of the carpentry tradition of Northern Spain, with the shape and space of the old Castilian squares.[3].