Antic Institut Ravetllat-Pla

Antic Institut Ravetllat-Pla is a historic building tucked into the Doctor Pla i Armengol Gardens in Barcelona's Guinardó district. Behind its rural facade lies a story that mixes a private estate, a disputed medical experiment, and a distinctive piece of local architecture.

What is this building's story?

The plot has roots going back to the 17th century, when a country house called Torre Fitona stood on the site. By the late 18th century the property had passed to the Congregation of the Mission, who used it to train young priests, giving rise to its old name, "Els Seminaris." After Spain's church-property disentailment law of 1836 the estate reverted to the state, and in 1841 it was sold at public auction to Antoni Rovira.

Its most notable chapter began in 1919, when veterinarian Joaquim Ravetllat and physician Ramon Pla founded a research institute here devoted to treating tuberculosis. Their method was considered unorthodox by mainstream medicine at the time: working with horses kept on the property, they produced a serum and a preparation known as hemoantitoxin, nicknamed "horse blood" by Barcelona locals.

What will you see there?

The building standing today dates from 1930 and was designed by architect Adolf Florensa. Rather than following the clinical style typical of research institutes, Florensa modeled it on an 18th-century Catalan masia, the traditional stone farmhouse of the region — giving the complex the look of a rural manor rather than a laboratory. The building is listed as an asset of local cultural interest, which protects its facades and overall structure from alteration.

One striking episode in its history came during the Spanish Civil War, when the building served as a temporary seat for the Basque Government in exile in Barcelona. Today, owned by the city, it houses a museum built around the collection of Núria Pla, daughter of Dr. Ramon Pla, gathering objects related to the institute and its founders.

How do you get there?

The building sits inside the Doctor Pla i Armengol Gardens in the Guinardó district, on the hills to the northeast of central Barcelona. It's a quiet residential area, reachable from downtown by metro and bus, and pairs well with a walk through the adjoining Parc del Guinardó.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn are the best times to explore the gardens and admire the building's exterior, when Barcelona's temperatures are mild and the park is at its greenest. Summers can get warm, though the trees in the gardens offer plenty of shade.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of the building? Yes, it houses a museum built around Núria Pla's collection — it's worth checking current opening hours before visiting, as access can be limited.

Where does the institute's name come from? It comes from its founders, veterinarian Joaquim Ravetllat and physician Ramon Pla, who opened a tuberculosis research center here in 1919.

Why does it look like a farmhouse instead of a clinic? Architect Adolf Florensa deliberately modeled the 1930 building on a traditional 18th-century Catalan masia, giving it a rural rather than institutional character.

What is its connection to the Spanish Civil War? During the war, the building served as a temporary seat for the Basque Government, which was in exile in Barcelona at the time.