The Sanatorio de La Barranca in the Sierra de Madrid

In the mid-20th century, several sanatoriums were built isolated from urban centers to treat grave pandemics such as tuberculosis, leprosy, polio, fibrosis, and lung cancer. In the Sierra de Guadarrama, several of these sanatoriums were located, including Sanatorio de La Barranca, whose construction dates back to 1941.

The location in the mountains was chosen because, before the discovery of penicillin and streptomycin, fresh air was considered the best relief for patients. It was noted that tuberculosis cases decreased drastically at altitudes above 1,200 meters. The building featured large windows and was organized into two main wings with a tower between them.

Sanatorio de La Barranca functioned as a residential center for people with intellectual disabilities until the mid-1990s. When it was decided that these individuals should receive care in centers closer to their homes, the center closed and fell into abandonment. The building was eventually demolished in 2024.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons