The Benedictine monastery of Montserrat is a sixty-minute drive from the city.
On the way we shall stop at the foot of the mountain for your first view of what the locals call “the spiritual heart of Catalonia” before we drive up the mountain side to the monastery.
During the five-mile long drive you will have a good opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery and, on a clear day, see the foothills of the Pyrenees.
The monastery has been one of the most visited and important pilgrim destinations in Europe for hundreds of years. Pilgrims come to pray in front of the “Moreneta”, the popular name for the Black Madonna, the Virgin Mary of Montserrat.
I shall tell you about some of the legends surrounding the relic and the mountain, the history of the monastery, the everyday life of the monks and explain to you why the monastery and the mountain are such important symbols of the regional identity of people in this part of Spain.
The highlight for many visitors is the chance to listen to one of Europe´s oldest boys´ choirs (The Escolania) singing inside the church-usually every day at 13.00.
It is also possible to buy CD recordings of the choir and all manner of souvenirs in the nearby shops before returning to Barcelona.