The day started out with a trip to Montserrat. Montserrat (mont - mountain and
serrat - serrated) is 30 miles west of Barcelona. We opted for an English group tour
to get there and were in luck there were only six of us so it was a very
personal tour. These mountains are the highest point in the Catalan lowlands and
are centrally located.
The most important religious retreat in Catalonia is the church at Montserrat -
Mare de Due de Montserrat.
Athletes come on pilgrimages
praying that competitions are won. Young people like to come here
from Barcelona and watch the sunrise from the heights.
The church and a Benedictine monastery are nestled among the towers and crags
of the mountains. The monastery has been in service for 1000 years. Currently,
there are about 80 monks who follow the Order of Saint Benedict.
The entrance to the church is in a small plaza. Construction was begun in the
16th century. The current facade dates from 1901 and the interior was
restored after its destruction during the Napoleonic wars in 1811.
La Moreneta (the black virgin), Catalonia's favorite saint, resides high above the altar.
Each day a boys choir sings at 1200 - all the tourists pack into the church to
hear the choir. The Benedictine monastery sponsors a music school for young boys
aged 8-13 - it is the
oldest boys' choir in Europe.
Cal and Virginia Ann in a brief photo opp leaving the church.
Monserrat has a wonderful art exhibit covering many well-known artists. They also allow photos.
Regiment on the March by Josep Cusachs - 1892
Pornic Beach - Auguste Renoir - 1892
Isl Saint-Louis - Santiago Rusinol - 1890
The Island or St Louis is one of our favorite places in Paris so this was a unique find in Spain.
El Mariner - Salvador Dali - 1926
Sta. Magdalena - El Greco - 1576
Little Girl and Her Companion - Francese Gimeno - 1891.
This painting was fun because Rebecca, one of the couples on the tour with us
(Gary and Rebecca Johnson)
is a nurse specializing in the use of animals to speed recovery.
Montmarte - Ramon Casas - 1892
Dinner was at a restaurant suggested by the hotel - Restaurante Tipico. It was great fun. The
waiter was excellent and the dinner great.
