A new mural in the El Clot neighbourhood of Barcelona brings attention to the history of Escola Natura, a pioneering rationalist school rooted in the city’s libertarian educational movement. The artwork by Roc Blackblock was developed in collaboration with the European Observatory on Memories (EUROM) with the support of Barcelona City Council to make this little-known chapter of the neighbourhood’s history visible in public space.
The mural marks the site of the former Escola Farigola, located at Carrer Municipi, 12, where the Parc del Clot now stands. Established in January 1918 and supported by the trade union La Constància, Escola Farigola became the seed of the future Escola Natura, one of the most significant examples of rationalist education in Barcelona.
Initially directed by Josep Alberola Navarro, a trade unionist and rationalist teacher, the school was later led by anarchist educator Joan Puig i Elies, a disciple of Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia. Its classrooms welcomed a generation of young anarchist activists, including Diego Camacho, better known as Abel Paz, Llibert Sarrau, Víctor García and Federico Arcos, who would later establish the group Los Quijotes del Ideal and contribute to the creation of the Libertarian Youth movement in the early 1930s. Among its former pupils were also Aurora Molina Iturbe and Pura Arcos.
Beyond recovering a significant episode in El Clot’s libertarian past, the mural highlights the historical importance of rationalist schools as spaces of social transformation. Inspired by principles such as coeducation, active learning and hygienism, these educational initiatives challenged conventional teaching methods and placed knowledge at the heart of working-class emancipation and freedom.
The mural also coincides with the work of the neighbourhood’s local memory initiatives. On Saturday, 7 November, Ateneu Zitzània organised a new edition of the Ruta pel Clot Llibertari i Rebel, a walking tour exploring the area’s libertarian heritage, including the history of Escola Natura and other landmarks of its political and social memory.
By bringing this history back into the streets, the project contributes to preserving the neighbourhood’s collective memory and recognising the role of alternative educational movements in shaping Barcelona’s social and political history.
Pictures: © Fer Alcala
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