The Enriqueta Villavecchia Foundation powered the Children Palliative Care Network in Catalonia.

And now, we want to create the first children hospice, a pioneering centre to provide comprehensive support to children and young people with incurable illnesses.

How are we going to do this? By rehabilitating a unique building that will offer services for family respite, activities, complementary therapies, end-of-life care, and bereavement support.

Tracy Leonard-Warner
Executive director of Ryan House hospice. Phoenix, Arizona

“A children's hospice is a precious place where families can be together with their children in those last moments, creating precious memories that will last them a lifetime.”

Dra. Carolina Pérez
Palliative care specialist at the Evelina London Children's Hospital

“Hospices bring light in the darkness, and they are a place where families can access various resources: music therapy, hydrotherapy and respite care.”

Jana Krákorová
Vlček Family Foundation, Czech Republic

“It is going to offer comprehensive services for families with seriously ill children. These families really need these services, it is very important to them.”

The hospice will be located in the Victoria Pavilion, which is part of the Modernist Complex of the Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul.

The Santa Victoria Pavilion was built 100 years ago, thanks to the donation of a family of a girl, little Victoria, who died from an illness. The building was dedicated to the care of sick children.

The building was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It is located within the historic grounds of the Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

That’s how it will be:

Playroom and common areas.

family apartments to care for the final days.

Water area, a space for sensory stimulation, support and well-being therapies.

6 rest rooms for families, to provide then rest and care.

Assistance to schools and professionals room

The project has been designed by “Estudi Carme Pinós”, renowned architect with international background.

Direct beneficiaries 400 famílies/year

The center will be available to the entire Paediatric Palliative Care Network of Catalonia

Opening forecast 2026

Management by the Hospital de Sant Pau within the public service portfolio

Superfície construïda 1.380 m2
Garden1.300 m2

Impact

With the centre at full capacity from 2026.

400 Supported families annually
1.600 Direct beneficiaries
12.000 Indirect beneficiaries

	ActivitY
600	Respite stays
40	Final days stays
3.000	Complementary therapy sessions
250	Interventions in educational centres
30	Activitats de lleure familiar i respir
200	Care, supervision, and training sessions, professional workshops and meetings.
25.000	volunteer support, respite, entertainment, and activities sessions.

Children’s hospices are a common resource in Europe. In the United Kingdom alone, there are more than 50. Across Europe, there are 133.

Victoria Pavilion is a center for taking care of life with respect and dignity. A new resource for children affected by any incurable illness, who are receiving medical care at hospital.

The center will offer continuous support to families: during life, at the time of death, in grief, and in remembrance. It’s not a hospital but a home, to give families this support.

This centre will also care for the professionals and will be open to the community to promote a more compassionate society.

Luís Enrique Martínez Former footballer and current football coach

Children with serious illnesses that cannot be cured need special attention, support, and above all, to continue being children. We must also care for their families, during the illness and afterwards. Creating a centre to take care of their lives is a victory for everyone.

Pilar Caballé "Volunteering, one of the drivers of my life"

“As a Villavecchia Foundation Volunteer I know how fragile life is. So fragile and precious that is worth to be lived each day with dignity. That is what this project is aimed for: respect and union”.

Prof. Dr. Sergi X. TrillaTrifemed founder, President and Ceo

“The humans have the ability to imagine the future. The magic occurs when this virtue is used to improve society wellbeing, then great projects arise, as Victoria Pavilion.

We need the commitment of all to build this place, which will make possible to face very difficult moments in life and create a peaceful memories, because all possible will have been done.”

Imma Ollé Lawyer and volunteer since 2009

“This project is huge and requires the solidarity of society, to make possible the first children hospice in our territory, as soon as possible”

Required investment

Investment	2024	2025	2026
1st phase - Façade and roodf Kick off - October 2024	1.700.000 € 100% accomplished	-	-
2nd phase - Interior Kick off - March 2025	-	3.000.000 € 67% accomplished	1.800.000 € Work in progress