Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
MONESTIR DE MONTSERRAT
(
www.abadiamontserrat.net
;
9am-6pm)
The monastery - the second most important pilgrim-
age centre in Spain after Santiago de Compostela - was founded in 1025 to commemorate
a vision of the Virgin on the mountain, seen by - you've guessed it - shepherds, after
which the Black Virgin icon, allegedly carved by St Luke and hidden in the mountains by
St Peter to protect it from the Moors, was discovered. Wrecked by Napoleon's troops in
1811, the monastery was rebuilt from 1858. Today a community of about 80 monks lives
here. Pilgrims come from far and wide to venerate the Virgen de Montserrat, affectionately
known as
La Moreneta
('the little brown one' or 'the Black Madonna'), a 12th-century
Romanesque wooden sculpture of a regal-looking Mary, holding the infant Jesus, the wood
stained dark by centuries of smoke. She has been Catalonia's patron since 1881 and her
blessing is particularly sought by newly married couples; Barcelona FC dedicate their vic-
tories to her and during the civil war she was courted by Franco.
Monastery
MUSEU DE MONTSERRAT
(Plaça de Santa Maria; adult/student €6.50/5.50; 10am-6pm)
The two-part Museu de Montserrat
has an excellent collection, ranging from an Egyptian mummy and Gothic altarpieces to art
by El Greco, Monet, Degas and Picasso, as well as modern art and some fantastic 14th-cen-
tury Russian icons.
Museum
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