June 19, 2026
Bellesguard Team
After a long period of preparation, finally, on Friday, June 12, we carried out a very special activity, as it combined history with a cooking workshop, allowing us to explain —and taste— a part of our past…
The activity brought together three local institutions: the Vil·la Florida Civic Centre, the Joan Maragall Library, and Torre Bellesguard. In the first, the stoves were lit; in the second, a table of books related to the activity was set up; and in the third, ours, the visit to the Tower took place.
A legendary quote
The connecting thread is a quote from a well-known historical figure: Roger de Llúria, a prominent military leader of the Catalan Middle Ages. As the image of this quote presides over the entrance to the house, during each visit we explain its origin, which is framed within the expansion of the Crown of Aragon across the Mediterranean, shaking lands and seas alike. At one point, the conflict even reached our own territory. Indeed, Philip the Bold, King of France, with the support of Pope Martin IV, launched a major military expedition against Catalonia, but the French troops were defeated by Peter the Great, with the decisive help of Admiral Roger de Llúria. The invaders entered through Roussillon, reaching the gates of Girona. The victory took place off the Formigues Islands. At that moment, Bernat Desclot, a chronicler of the time, places in Roger de Llúria’s mouth words that have since become legendary.
The original quote, written by Bernat Desclot in the chronicle that bears his name (chap. CLXVI, 166), written in 1288.
“Nor do I believe that any galley or vessel, or even any fish, would dare rise upon the sea if it did not carry a shield bearing the sign of the King of Aragon on its tail to show the safe conduct of that lord, the King of Aragon.”
An adaptation into modern Catalan, written by a writer who, interestingly, shares the same surname as the original author: Miquel Desclot, in Crònica de la croada contra Catalunya, published by Barcino in 2015.
“Nor do I think that any galley or other ship would dare sail the sea without the safe conduct of the King of Aragon. And not only galley or ship, but I do not believe that any fish would dare rise upon the sea unless it carried a shield with the sign of the King of Aragon on its tail.”
A gastronomic challenge
For some time, we had wanted to add something more to the visit—something beyond an explanation, something more practical. Would it be possible to prepare a dish as a tribute to that period? A dish where the four red stripes could be clearly identified?
There was a challenge: the quote dates back to 1285, and many of the ingredients that first come to mind, such as tomatoes and peppers, did not arrive in our land until after Columbus’s voyage to America in 1492. Using only the ingredients available in Roger de Llúria’s time, was it possible to prepare this dish?
And the answer is yes, as you can see in the following images. We hope to repeat the activity soon and will keep you informed. For now, we leave you with a link to the article that inspired it, “Hake à la Roger de Llúria. Enjoy your meal!”
