Bas-relief depicting a bastaix
The bastaixos, in Italian "harbor sailors", worked in Barcelona between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. At the beginning were slaves working at the Ribera quarry.
In the first quarter of the 14th century, becoming free men, they established a brotherhood of humble people who devolve part of their income to the poor.
They were also among the main contributors to the construction of the Church of Santa Maria del Mar transporting heavy stones from the quarry to the church without receiving any remuneration: this is why they are remembered in a bas-relief in the cathedral.
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