El Call in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain — Southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula)

Scala Dei

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 18, 2019

1. Scala Dei Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

(Catalan:)

El rei Alfons d'Aragó, envià dos cavallers per tot Catalunya a la recerca d'un lloc adient per fundar una cartoixa. Sota la serra del Montsant varen trobar un pastoret. Ell els manifestà que en aquell lloc s'havia reproduït el somni de Jacob, és a dir, l'escala que pujava fins al cel. amb àngels anant i venint. Els cavallers consideraran el lloc adequat per bastir-hi una cartoixa, que s'anomenaria naturalment

SCALA DEI

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(English translation:)

King Alfonso de Aragon sent two knights throughout Catalonia looking for a suitable place to found a monastery. Under the Sierra del Montsant they found a shepherd. He told them that in that place, the dream of Jacob had been reproduced, that is, there would be a ladder there that climbed to the sky, with angels coming and going. The knights considered it the right place to build a monastery, calling it naturally "Scala Dei" (i.e., God's Ladder).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 41° 23.012′ N, 2° 10.377′ E. Marker is in Barcelona, Cataluña (Catalonia). It is in El Call. Marker is on Carrer de la Portaferrissa just east of Carrer de Petritxol

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, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Carrer de la Portaferrissa, 20, Barcelona, Cataluña 08002, Spain. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lluís Millà i Reig (1921-2005) (within shouting distance of this marker); Antoni Campillo i Matheu (within shouting distance of this marker); Francesc Salva i Campillo (1751-1828) (within shouting distance of this marker); Montserrat Caballé (within shouting distance of this marker); Portaferrissa - La "Porta Ferriça" / Portaferrissa - The Iron Gate (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Maurici Serrahima i Bofill (about 90 meters away); Angel Guimerá (about 90 meters away); Joan Magriñà i Sanromà (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barcelona.

Also see . . . Carthusian Monastery of Escaladei (Patrimoni Cultural, Generallitat de Catalunya). (Submitted on October 17, 2019.)

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 18, 2019

2. Scala Dei Marker

The marker is outside the Scala Dei shoe store. The monastery described on the marker is about 160 km. (2 hrs.) west of Barcelona.

Scala Dei Marker - closeup of artwork image. Click for full size.

3. Scala Dei Marker - closeup of artwork

"The monastery of Escaladei was founded in 1163 by request of King Alfonso I the Chaste, with the intention to colonising and Christianising the New Catalonia of the Muslims. The place chosen was the Vall d’Oliver, at the foot of the Sierra del Montsant, where legend has it that a shepherd had dreamt about angels ascending to heaven on a ladder: Escaladei, the ‘ladder to God’." - Patrimoni Cultural, Generallitat de Catalunya

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 17, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.