This is the first stop along the route initiating us into the symbols and areas in Barcelona related to Freemasonry. Although Barcelona does not have as many Masonic symbols as other European cities there are still some that survived the bloody years of Francoist persecution. The dictator not only ordered the shooting, imprisoning and disabling of lodge members, he also gave instructions for the symbols on buildings, monuments and in cemeteries to be destroyed.
The confiscation order of the Franco police was never carried out. The library was simply closed and someone, who must have been fairly influential, ensured that no harm came to it until it reopened in the mids. Here, at the beginning of the journey, we can already feel the mysterious atmosphere of the secret society, or discrete society, as the Masons prefer it to be known.
Its upper perimeter is ringed with ceramic pieces depicting animal species. One of them is a five-legged starfish, which has something similar to a G at its centre. The G represents origin β Genesis β Geometry and God. While many people imagine they see abundant Masonic elements on the front, these probably have more to do with the mythology of the sea and the Zodiac. Where we do find traces of Freemasonry is the well-known restaurant Set Portes, on the ground floor.
If we have arranged a visit, or if we can convince someone who happens to be there, we can visit the temple and the other facilities. To confirm this, we just need to go to Barcelona Cathedral where we will find the traces of these workers. They had extensive knowledge of geometry and shared moral and working norms, and they recognised each other through words and secret signs. They were organised into categories and had ceremonies, like the initiation of apprentices, in a small building located, logically, next to the cathedral, where they also relaxed, ate and kept their tools and plans.
Working stone was such a specialised skill that each mason signed his work with an identifying symbol. Mediaeval Masonic set squares, compasses and other symbols are also found on some of the windows on the outer part of the apse. This was financed in the 16th century by Canon Joan Andreu Sorts, who supervised the cathedral works. On the shield is an open compass with its points facing upwards, a rose and two comets. Before leaving the old town behind, we can go to Carrer Portaferrissa, where the front door of number 11 bears a small sculpture of two children holding the tools of mediaeval masons.
