Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Chapterhouse detail, Monestir de Santes Creus
Right
Monestir de Poblet
Churches & Monasteries
!
M
o
nestir de Montserrat
^
S
a
nt Climent i Santa
Maria de Taüll
These two churches are perfect
examples of the Romanesque
churches that pepper the Pyre-
nees. Dating from 1123, most of
the original frescoes are now in
the MNAC in Barcelona
(see pp18-
19).
d
138 km N of Lleida • 973 69 40 00
&
C
a
tedral de La Seu d'Urgell
Catalonia's holiest place is
the region's most visited monas-
tery. It boasts some Romanesque
art and a statue of the “Black
Virgin”
(see p119)
.
d
Montserrat
• 93 877 77 77 • Adm • DA to Basilica
@
Monestir de Poblet
This busy, working monastery
contains the Gothic Capella de
Sant Jordi, a Romanesque church,
and the Porta Daurada, a door-
way that was gilded for Felipe
II's visit in 1564.
d
off N240, 10 km
W of Montblanc • 97 787 02 54 • Adm
Dating from around 1040,
this cathedral is one of the most
elegant in Catalonia.
d
La Seu
d'Urgell • 973 35 32 42 • Adm • DA
*
C
a
tedral de Santa Maria
£
Monestir de Ripoll
This cathedral is remarkable
for possessing the widest Gothic
nave anywhere in Europe and the
second widest of any type after
the Basilica in the Vatican.
d
Old
Town, Girona • 972 21 58 14 • Adm
• Sun free
(
C
a
tedral de Santa Tecla
The west portal of this
monastery (879) has reputedly
the finest Romanesque carvings
in Spain. Of the original buildings,
only the doorway and cloister
remain.
d
Ripoll • 972 70 23 51 • Adm
$
M
o
nestir de Santes Creus
The cloister at this Gothic
treasure (1150) is notable for the
beautifully sculpted capitals by
English artist Reinard Funoll.
d
Santes Creus, 25 km NW of Montblanc
• 977 63 83 29 • Closed Mon • Adm
• Tue free
%
M
o
nestir de Sant Pere
At 104-m (340-ft) long, Tarra-
gona's cathedral is the largest in
the region. Its architecture is a
mixture of Gothic and Roman-
esque, and it is crowned by a
huge octagonal bell tower.
d
Old
Town, Tarragona • 977 23 86 85 • Closed
Sun except for 11am mass • Adm
)
S
a
nt Joan de les
de Rodes
The dilapidated charm of this
UNESCO World Heritage Site may
have dwindled since its face-lift, but
nothing detracts from the views
it offers over Cap de Creus and Port
de la Selva.
d
22 km E of Figueres
• 972 38 75 59 • Closed Mon • Adm
Abadesses
This pretty French Romanesque-
style monastery in the Pyrenees
harbours a prestigious collection
of Romanesque sculpture.
d
Sant
Joan de les Abadesses • 972 72 05 99 •
www.santjoandelesabadesses.com • Adm
124
Usual opening hours for monasteries and churches are 10am-1pm &
3-7pm Mon-Sat, 10am-1pm Sun. Call to confirm seasonal times.
