Cathedral of the Sea

Bernat Estanyol, Arnau's father, is about to marry Francesca Esteve. Bernat is an orphan and the sole owner of the farmhouse he lives in: until now he has been a coveted bachelor. But the wedding is marred by the arrival of the Lord of Bellera, owner of the land, who rapes the bride and then forces Bernat to lie with her under threat of death by his soldiers.

On her deathbed Guiamona makes her husband Grau Puig promise to take Arnau as an apprentice when he comes of age. One day, Arnau meets Joan, whose mother is locked up for life for committing adultery. Arnau asks his father about his mother and he tells him that she died when he was born, but that he has a mother, the Virgin, and he can see her and talk to her in churches.

Bernat leaves Grau Puig's house. Because of the war, there is hardly any wheat and there are protest movements. Bernat is arrested as one of the rioters and hanged in the public square, and the corpse is forbidden to be taken down. Isabel and Margarida watch, pleased. That night, Arnau manages to burn his father's corpse. He flees from the guards and hides in the church.

Arnau marries Maria but maintains a passionate relationship with Aledis. Joan goes to Bologna to study theology. When Arnau feels alone and helpless, Peter the Ceremonious declares war on James III of Mallorca. Arnau enlists in the army. Aledis, discovered by her husband, is condemned to life imprisonment, but escapes with the help of her sister, and begins a dangerous journey in search of Arnau.

Arnau recovered at the home of the Jewish merchant Hasdai Crescas. Grateful, Hasdai convinces Arnau to become a money changer: he finances the business with his own money, and gives him Sahat, whom he makes him convert to Christianity, since a Jew cannot have Christian slaves. Arnau gains a reputation as an honest and generous money changer.

The King of Castile attacks Barcelona by sea. Arnau makes one of his ships run aground, giving time for the Catalan army to return. The King, wishing to get rid of his ward Elionor, marries her to Arnau and names him baron. During the ceremony, Mar weeps disconsolately. And at the back of the church another woman also weeps: it is Aledis.

Elionor asks Joan for help and Joan, tortured by doubts, agrees to let Elionor make Felip de Ponts kidnap and rape Mar. Arnau summons the Host, but Felip offers to marry Mar. The next day, Guillem leaves Barcelona and Joan is sent to the Pyrenees as an inquisitor. Time passes. Margarida Puig offers to Elionor to help him to destroy Arnau. There is a new assault on the Jewish quarter.

Aledis and Francesca are brought before Nicolau de Aymerich, who orders Aledis to be released, but Francesca is chained in the same dungeon as Arnau. Aledis learns the reason for Arnau's arrest from two prostitutes who seduce Jaume de Bellera and Genís Puig. Joan goes to see Mar, and remorse makes him confess that it was not Arnau who betrayed her but him.