The railroad commute with Barcelona; at the station you can purchase travel passes that cover riding in the subway, the train, the tramway, and the funicular on the way to the Montserrat monastery.
The mountain Montserrat monastery (the name is directly tied to a mountain range with the same name; the word "montserrat" translates to "jagged mountain") is a must visit for everyone who considers thyself a true Catalonian or is interested in the history and culture of Catalonia. In Montserrat you will find the image of La Moreneta, the patroness of Catalonia, a antique wooden figure of Mother Mary and her infant. The name of the statue roughly translates to "The little dark-skinned one", sometimes also called the Black Madonna.
According to the legend, the statue was made by apostle Lucas in 50 A.D.. The black Madonna was brought to the Pyrenees peninsula by apostle Peter, although research has shown that the image was created in the 12th Century. During the moor rule the monks hid Moreneta in a cave, which until this day remains "a saint cave". According to yet another legend, the cave got its name because mother Mary showed herself in an aura of light to a group of herders. This was the place where people later found the figure of the Black Madonna; but it was so heavy that no one could move it, and the local people built a church in that very place.
The Benedictine monastery was found on a narrow mountain terrace (725m) in the 9th Century. During the rule of abbot Oliba, in the 11th Century, many new structures appeared, and remain intact until this day. The main entrance to the monastery is located near the Placa de l'Abat Oliba; this is the place where the saint road begins – leading to the monastery, with 14 sculptural compositions installed along the way, depicting Jesus on his way to Golgotha. At the Placa de Santa Maria, surrounded by gothic galleries, you will find the Montserrat museum – featuring a collection of Spanish and world art (you will see such archeological exhibits, ancient sculptures, El Greco's paintings, and the painting s of many French impressionists, as well as the works of Picasso and Dali). The façade of the monastery opens towards the town square (the walls of the monastery were preserved since the 16th Century, but the pseudo Provencal façade only appeared in 1900). In the temple, behind the altar and in a glass frame, there is an image of Saint Mary of Montserrat.
Try to visit the Montserrat monastery around 1PM – this is the time when a choir performs their daily routine. This boy choir is considered one of the oldest in Europe. A tramway connects the monastery with nearby caves and chapels, located all over the surrounding mountain slopes; there are many walking paths if you happen to prefer going by foot in the mountains.
During the years of Napoleon's rule and wars, the monastery was destroyed and practically rebuilt from scratch during the 19th and 20th Centuries. This is a reason why there aren't too many truly old buildings around here. Although, this currently functional monastery is one of the most important places related to Christian pilgrimage in Catalonia, and in honor of the Montserrat Madonna people often name their daughters.
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