Sant Boi, Spain (CNN) The picturesque town of Sant Boi in Spain, 20 kilometers from Barcelona, is surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Parque forestal del Montbaig nature reserve.

But other than its views, the town is famous for two things: its rich artistic heritage and the large mental health hospital at the heart of the town.

The hospital was founded in 1855, and its long history continues to shape how people view the area.

"When you're outside of Sant Boi, for example Barcelona, and the people ask, 'where are you from?' and you say 'from Sant Boi,' they say, 'Oh, the town of the loonies.' This is what we want to change," local artist Dani Sánchez told CNN.

Nien Boots, who works in Sant Boi, described local interactions between residents and patients that give rise to both "funny situations or uncomfortable ones."

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