Esglesia de Sant Pere Nolasc (Church of St. Peter Nolasco), Barcelona

The former convent of the Paúles fathers, which was demolished in 1943, once occupied the entire space of the current Castella Square. Its history is rich and varied, having served as a tobacco factory and later a military hospital. Today, only the church, constructed between 1720 and 1750, remains as a testament to its past glory, featuring a single nave covered by a beautiful barrel vault adorned with lunettes. Interconnected side chapels and a covered transept with a semi-spherical dome add to its architectural splendor. Inside, visitors can admire the fresco murals painted by Joseph-Bernard Flaugier around 1800.

The facade of the church boasts two striking twin bell towers that catch the eye. Standing before the main entrance, you'll find one wing of the ancient cloister (repurposed as a porch), its graceful semi-circular arches supported by Tuscan columns. The restoration work carried out in the 1940s preserved the essence of the facade while incorporating salvaged elements from the demolished cloister. Notably, the addition of a balcony adorned with a ceramic panel in 1947 adds an extra touch of elegance.

Complementing the church's "Renaissance" style, additional buildings were designed around the same time for the new Mercedarian convent and a municipal school group, which stands today as the Castella school.