Today we toured with the Biegers. If I’ve not previously told, this family is originally from New Jersey, but now live in Pawley’s Island, SC. We met them towards the beginning of the cruise and have enjoyed their company at dinner and on tours. There are two brothers, Michael and John, married to Karen and Kathy. Karen and I have a trivia team. We thoroughly enjoy their company.

We headed off early for our destination, the Monastery and Basilica of Montserrat. Using another excellent guide, Ramon Burgues, from Tours by Locals, we learned that Montserrat is a multi-peak mountain range just north of Barcelona, in the region of Catalonia. With its highest peak, Sant Jeroni, at just over 4000ft, Montserrat translates to “serrated mountain” and when you see the unusual rock formations, you understand the name.

The abbey of Montserrat was founded in 1025, and in 1811 and in 1812, during Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, the abbey was twice burned down and sacked by Napoleon’s troops, and many of its treasures were lost. In 1835, the abbey was closed until restoration began in 1844 and continued into the 20th centuries. It was granted basilica status in 1861 and is still a working monastery today with 70 monks, a museum, a boarding school for a boys’ choir and a hotel.

Another notable element of the basilica is the Virgin of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia. As a 38-inch statue, she holds an orb of the earth in her right hand. The Child’s hand is raised in a formalized and traditional Eastern blessing. Often referred to as the Black Virgin, the metal of the statue has taken on a darker shade over the years. I found the statue stunning and moving.

We took a funicular ride to the top of the mountain, another 2000 feet above the monastery. We could see the Pyrenes Mountain range in the distance, covered with snow. After a ride back to Barcelona, we visited La Sagrada Familia, the baroque styled cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudi. Started in 1881, it is the largest unfinished catholic cathedral in the world. We visited La Sagrada in 2018 and was told then it would be finished by 2026, the 100th year anniversary of Gaudi’s death. Alas, they are now saying the cathedral will not be finished until 2034. Barcelona has a population of 6.7M and was bustling. We popped over to the Cotton House Hotel where we stayed in 2018 and enjoyed a refreshing drink on their beautiful patio.

Next stop tomorrow: Marseille, France

Recommended:

Ramon Burgues, Tours by Locals

https://www.toursbylocals.com/tours/barcelona-catalonia/spain/tour-details/montserrat-mountain-monastery-and-sanctuary-with-a-local-guide-664d256e1bbe5b817c36ecb