Monserrat Abbey is the perfect day trip from Barcelona if you’re looking to escape to the countryside. Monserrat is an abbey located high in the mountains about an hour from the city.
Mark and I are alumnus of St. Anselm College, which was founded by Benedictine Monks. Montserrat was also founded by Benedictine Monks in 1025 (much older than our school). The full name of the abbey is Montserrat de Santa Maria.
Getting to Monserrat Abbey
Now, since this abbey is high up in the mountains, there are a few different ways to get there. You can take a train, a cable car, or even do a group tour from Barcelona! If you’re short on time, the bus tour is a great option so you don’t have to worry about any of the details. For more information on how to get there, check out this link here.
Shopping at Montserrat
To this day, Montserrat de Santa Maria is the home to over 70 benedictine monks. One of my favorite parts of this trip was visiting the small shops outside the abbey where you can purchase cheese, chocolate & liqueur that the monks make!
Hiking at Montserrat
If you have time while visiting Montserrat, you can hike to the tallest point of the mountain by following the path titled Sant Jeroni. Although I did not have the time for this hike, it is rumored that on a clear day you can see as far as the island of Mallorca!
The Black Madonna
While visiting Montserrat, you will probably make your way inside the church. Keep in mind that both men and women need to have their shoulders covered, or you will be turned away. While inside, you may notice people lining up to enter a side door. This leads to the Black Madonna (also know as the Virgin of Montserrat). It is said that this wooden statue was carved back in Jerusalem. Many people pilgrimage from all over the world to see her.
The line to see the Black Madonna takes about 10-20 minutes depending on the time of the day. The sphere she holds in her hand is the only thing not protected by glass, which you can touch or kiss.
School at Montserrat
Another fun fact about Montserrat is that it’s home to a very famous school. If you happen to be there in the early afternoon, you can usually hear the famous boy’s choir sing around 1:00pm every day. Unfortunately the boys were on summer break when I visited so I didn’t get to hear them.
Unless you plan to do a lot of hiking, it really only takes a day to visit Montserrat. It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona. Plus, you can buy some really amazing chocolate & cheese to bring home!
Adios, Amanda
