Today we know him as the Niño Jesús University Children's Hospital, located on Menéndez Pelayo street number 65. Right in front of the Retiro. Work began in 1879 and it was inaugurated just two years later in 1881.
It was an initiative of the Duchess of Santoña, Doña María Hernández y Espinosa, who promoted its creation, similar to similar hospitals that she had seen on her travels through Europe.
In neo-Mudejar style, so fashionable at the time, it was carried out by the architect, Francisco Jareno y Alarcon, author of other relevant Madrid works, such as National Library from Paseo Recoletos. The construction was awarded gold medals at exhibitions in Antwerp, Paris, London, Vienna and Barcelona, ​​which recognized its originality, beauty and functionality.
The complex also has a Church that is located in the center of the Hospital building, with a rectangular floor plan and consists of a single nave. On the sides of the Church there are two side towers for bell towers and in its center, there is a third that supports the carillon of the electric clock.

We will return another day to talk to you about the House of Cantabria which occupies the site of the old Niño Jesús train station, the head of the Via Verde del Tajuña.

A abrazo.