Antiguo Hospital San Juan de Dios

Located on Calle Cánovas del Castillo (Pontón) corner of Calle Teniente Ochoa, in Linares, the old San Juan de Dios Hospital (18th century) was declared a National Monument in 1962. Highlights include the exuberant and symmetrical façade in Baroque style. Over the main door, there is a niche with a sculpture of San Juan de Dios. The remaining decoration is based on geometric shapes and plant, as well as figurines of naked children.

Originally, this house belonged to Mr Bernabé Polaina and, in 1713, it was ceded to the Order of San Juan de Dios for the establishment of an infirmary-hospice. In 1745, the building of the first hospital in Linares was almost finished and, in 1760, building started on the adjoining church, supported by Bartolomé García Escobosa, who was consecrated in 1769. In 1835, when the religious community disappeared, the hospital was managed by the municipal board of welfare and its assets were put on sale.

In 1848, the hospital moved to the old San Francisco Convent and, since then, this building has had various uses, including: a theatre, primary school, the first offices of the recently-created Guardia Civil, the provisional headquarters of Post and Telegraphs, provisional headquarters for the Town Council, criminal court, School of Mining Experts, a secondary school and, since 1985, it has been the Court of Justice.