La Casa de la Misericòrdia de Barcelona
Early History
La Casa de la Misericòrdia de Barcelona, located on Carrer d’Elisabets 8-10 in the Ciutat Vella, is both a private non-profit institution and a historical landmark. It was founded in the year 1581 with the help of the Barcelona Council of One Hundred (Consell de Cent) at the request of a priest and professor at the University of Barcelona, Diego Pérez de Valdivia. Their goal was to offer aid and shelter to the city’s poor and homeless population, which represented an important and growing problem for the urban center. Originally established at the Convent of Angels (Convent dels Àngels), its name was changed to the Hospital of Our Lady of Mercy (Hospital de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia) just a few years later, in 1584.
The adjacent plots of land—bordered by the streets that today are Tallers, Valldonzella, Montalegre, d’Elisabets and Ramellers—were the sites of other institutions, including the House of Orphaned Infants (Casa dels Infants Orfes) as well as private homes. The Casa de la Misericòrdia gradually bought up all the adjoining properties in order to expand its grounds.
The Casa was converted into an asylum or halfway house specifically for destitute girls and women in the year 1684. In 1775, a board of directors was established, and the institution was divided into two departments: one caring for girls under the age of 12, and another for elderly women with no one to care for them. The young women were sometimes permitted to continue to live in the Casa if no other accommodation options could be found as they grew older.
The girls’ education was the responsibility of a community of San Franciscan Catholic nuns, who taught them to read, write, count, sew, spin wool and other basic life skills. The space itself—the inner patio, workrooms, living areas, the infirmary, the chapel and other parts of the building—helped to raise the quality of life for the people who lived and worked there, as it had high ceilings, a lot of natural light and was maintained to the highest standards of cleanliness.
The house was supported by an annual income allotted by the local government, combined with charitable donations and money generated by the girls’ work.
At the end of the 18th century, the name was changed to the Royal House of Hospice and Refuge in Barcelona (Real Casa de Hospicio y Refugio in Barcelona). In 1802, King Charles IV issued a royal decree that made the institution the city's official public shelter for both the male and female poor, though the two populations were housed in separate spaces: men at the Col.legi Tridenti, and the women at the Casa’s original, current location on Carrer d’Elisabets.
In 1804, the space was renamed La Casa de Misericòrdia and recovered its original mission to specifically care for vulnerable and homeless girls and women.
An important shift in the internal workings of la Casa took place in 1920, when the San Franciscan nuns were replaced by the Daughters of Charity of Sant Vicenç de Paül when it came to overseeing the residents of the institution. Since 1974, they have also been in charge of the management of the primary and secondary education school that is housed in the same space, the Escola Laboure.
La Casa Today
In 1984, the organization running the Casa was legally established as a non-profit organization, reaffirming its commitment to charitable work supporting vulnerable members of the community. Its scope was also officially expanded to promote popular cultural endeavors, and the Foundation participates in various cultural activities throughout the calendar year.
For example, it regularly conducts “jornadas” or debates on social issues: a group of experts recently met to discuss the increase in drug and alcohol addiction among young people due to the stresses brought on by the pandemic. The Casa also hosts a series of science-related workshops in its gardens during the Biennial Ciutat Ciencia (the biennial city-wide science symposium) among other events.
The space houses an important historical archive—documenting much of Barcelona’s history and its citizens’ daily lives dating as far back as the 1300s—as well as a photographic archive of over 800 images that chronicle many of the experiences of generations of inhabitants of the institution. These documents can be accessed in person, or in digital form online.
The current Casa de la Misericòrdia is a mix of the various additions, renovations and changes that the façade has undergone over the centuries, such as the impressive Renaissance-era portal flanked by ornate Doric columns. This doorway dates back to the 16th century and was originally a part of the façade of the nearby Casa dels Infants Orfes.
In the 1980s, the Casa underwent its most recent facelift, when some of the older buildings on Carrer Montalegre were torn down due to urban planning.
Associated Institutions
The Re3Torres student residence is composed of two buildings in the upscale Sarrià neighborhood offering dormitory-style rooms for up to 30 students. The residence’s location makes it a convenient place to live for young people studying at the half-dozen universities located nearby, and the various amenities make the living experience more comfortable for those looking for a home away from home while getting their education in Barcelona. The income from the residents’ monthly rent helps to fund the Foundation.
There is also the Can Masriera: a historic, remodeled farmhouse in the town of Andreu de Llavaneres, built in 1665. The picturesque location surrounded by natural beauty is a popular destination for conventions, retreats, summer camps and other activities. It can house up to 62 people and offers both in-house activities—such as after-school homework help, directed games, workshops and nature exploration—and the option to rent out the space for private events.