Porters – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetry, Thursday Doors
Basilica Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona Catalonia Spain. Image credit © Debbie Ann Powell | Dreamstime

door porters portals

carrying the weight of a city

on bronzed shoulders

~~~

Built and supported by the local people of Barcelona, rather than by the nobility, as was common at that time, the Basilica Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona Spain, stands as a remarkable example of Spanish Gothic architecture. It took fifty years to build (1329 to 1383 A.D.).

Its unique interior design has gained praise. The builders used a host of techniques to cleverly hide the basilica’s internal obstructions/structures, creating the successful illusion of a single nave when in fact there are actually three naves!

**The original featured door of Basilica Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona Spain is made of wood with metal filigree. The door depicts two bronze figures about two-thirds of the way up, representing the city’s porters, known as the bastaixos. Close-ups are below:

Main Door Bronze Relief, Basilica Santa Maria Del Mar, Barcelona. Image credit: © Cisco Pelay | Alamy
Main Door Bronze Relief (left side), Basilica Santa Maria Del Mar, Barcelona. Image credit © Cisco Pelay | Alamy
Main Door Bronze Relief (Right side) Basilica Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona. Image credit: © Cisco Alamy

Trivia #1: Basilica Santa Maria del Mar’s distinctive Spanish Gothic rose window survived both an earthquake on February 2, 1428, and the rigors of The Spanish Civil War in 1936. An image of the rose window is below:

Rose Window above the main entrance, Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona. Image credit:: © Álvaro Bueno Lumbreras | Dreamstime

Trivia #2: Basilica Santa Maria del Mar gained fame in popular culture, through Ildefonso Falcones’ award-winning and best-selling book, “La catedral del mar,” and its subsequent Netflix series adaptation in 2018.

The story narrates the cathedral’s construction and follows a young man from Barcelona who rises from humble beginnings to medieval nobility. “La catedral del mar” stars Spanish actress Michelle Jenner made famous for her highly acclaimed Spanish voice-over of the first four Harry Potter movies.

Wider angle of Basilica Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona Spain below:

Basilica Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain. Image Credit: © Marcorubino | Dreamstime

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#ThursdayDoors visit Dan Antion – No Facilities

Teresa, My camera and I

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

39 thoughts on “Porters – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors”

  2. Pingback: Porters – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

    1. They represent the men who loaded and unloaded the ships in The Port of Barcelona. Great question, I should have mentioned it in the post. Thank you Liz.
      P.S. “porters” were also the door man/ Janitor in castles, and doors to important homes in the Middle Ages, in general across Europe.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. The opening photo shows the immense size of the cathedral in contrast to the sitting woman. The sheer size of these European cathedrals and the years of construction are a testament to man’s patience and perseverance. Blessings Suzette for another outstanding post!

    Liked by 1 person

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