Many years ago – or just yesterday, depending on “when” you read this – while exploring antique shops in the mountains of North Carolina, we stumbled upon an old book filled with handwritten stories and sketches. The sketches were very intriguing—some incredibly detailed, others seemingly incomplete—yet all were exquisite; the stories were mind-blowing. They described a special door, a very particular door, a magic door: the Porta Magicae. The stories chronicled the research done by the mysterious author of the book in a quest to follow the periodic appearances—and disappearances—of the door. The tales spoke of travels, of findings, of people encountered. There were sketches of beautiful locations, animals, and people. They portrayed unbelievable buildings, ruins, and enchanted rooms. Yet most importantly, and we ask you to be open-minded to an idea that at first we were very skeptical about, the book explained that the Porta Magicae had the power to open connections to everywhere…

… and everywhen.

Of course, we initially dismissed it as fantasy—the product of a very creative imagination. Yet, also sketched in the book, were objects from cultures around the world. Some of those, we later found out, were objects discovered and brought to public view many years after the chronicled dates in the drawings. Intrigued, we decided – then just for fun – to dig a little deeper. A few sketches had long lists of dates on them – sometimes continuing for several pages – and we discerned a pattern. The dates were 122 and 153 days apart and repeated themselves – although sometimes with large gaps – over centuries. We realized that a couple of the images, in which we had identified the locations, had a series of dates that, when calculated forward, indicated a new “date” was just a couple of weeks away. And right there, our journey began with enigmatic clues hinting at the door’s next reappearance in the enchanting town of Ohrid, Macedonia.

Ohrid—a town boasting a holy sanctuary for each day of the year, 365 churches and temples, hundreds of ancient buildings, and ten times as many ancient doors—proved to be an incredible challenge. At first, when asked about the door, people would act as though they had no idea what we were talking about. But once we told them what we had found in that mysterious box, their stories started to flow, and they all pointed in one direction, an old woodshop at the edge of town. We entered the shop and called for attention as we walked around the shop, but nobody responded. It was then that we saw it on a wall. A drawing that changed everything for us—forever.

Check out our archives and follow us on Facebook and Instagram as we organize all that we’ve found – from all around the world – and bring it forth for you to explore with us. And please, if you have any clues about the door’s whereabouts, write to us. We’re always on the move but ready to change course – and time – when necessary.

THE LEGEND OF

SANT JORDI AND THE DRAGON

Once upon a time, in the south of Catalonia, Spain, there lived a fearsome dragon that was terrorizing the citizens of the small town of Montblanc. It was wreaking so much havoc and destruction in the area that the terrified townspeople had to obey the dragon’s demands to sacrifice one person chosen by lot each day.

One day, the turn came for the king’s daughter to be sacrificed. But, when the dragon was about to devour the princess, a handsome knight, Sant Jordi, intervened. He confronted the beast, driving his spear into the dragon’s heart. Mortally wounded, the dragon fell, and from where its blood spilled, a rosebush with red roses grew. Sant Jordi, as gallant as he was brave, plucked a rose and gave it to the princess. Now, on every April 23rd, friends and loved ones exchange books and roses all over Catalonia in a beautiful tradition that celebrates both love and culture.

Now, as then, Catalonia is an adventure, and Barcelona, a city with more clues about the Porta Magicae than any other city in the world, is at its heart. Soon we’ll share many of the incredible findings we have unearthed from the layers of this exciting city, and a Magic Dial that seems to have caused more chaos than even… well, a dragon.

Frequently check our archives to see what new clues we have found and help us find the Porta Magicae!