Travel Highlights - Barcelona

Montserrat, about an hour's drive from Barcelona, boasts stunning mountain scenery and rich religious culture. Its rock formations, seemingly cut through by a saw, are visually striking and perfect for photo ops!

The mountain's most famous attraction is the Monastery of Montserrat, where La Moreneta (Our Lady of the Black Face), Catalonia's patron saint, is enshrined. Many pilgrims come every year. Besides the monastery, there are hiking trails through the mountains and forests, offering breathtaking views and a relaxing, natural escape.

Many visitors come here to watch the sunset and city views, and the area boasts a 17th-century temple church. The hill was considered sacred even in pre-Columbian times, when the area was inhabited by the indigenous Muisca people. It was a pilgrimage destination and a major tourist attraction. Besides the church, there are also restaurants and souvenir shops.

Our fifth stop was Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona is a famous city, renowned for its high altitude, and the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and apartment buildings he spearheaded are truly captivating. Since we'd already been to all of these places before, we decided to include Monserrate Mountain in our itinerary.

From Barcelona's Plaza de España train station, take the R5 line, which departs every hour. After a one-hour ride, you'll arrive at Montserrat Mountain. Montserrat has two train stations: Montserrat Aeri and Monistrol de Montserrat. From the base of the mountain, there are two ways to reach the monastery: a cable car or a cogwheel train. If you're taking the cable car, get off at Montserrat Aeri; if you're taking the cogwheel train, get off at Monistrol de Montserrat.

Whether you're religious or not, visiting the Black Madonna of Montserrat is a spiritual and rewarding experience. You'll queue with a crowd, many of whom are on pilgrimage—the atmosphere is thrilling. You'll likely have to wait before you can see the statue. However, all of this enhances your visit—take advantage of the opportunity to appreciate the surroundings. The staircase leading to the statue, as well as the room and altar where it is located, are richly decorated and resplendent, paying homage to the miracles of the Madonna herself.

The Black Madonna is sometimes known by other names, such as "Our Lady of Montserrat" and "La Moreneta." The statue is housed behind a pane of glass. However, the sphere in one hand (symbolizing the universe) is not behind the glass. Traditionally, people kiss or touch the Madonna's hand while extending the other hand to Jesus.

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