Monstserrat - Barcelona / Spain

Montserrat - Barcelona

MONTSERRAT

Montserrat is a very powerful and religious symbol for the Catalan people. 

Every Catalan has at least visited one time the spectacular historical place .The mountain of Montserrat, which means "Sawed Mountain" or "Jagged Mountain", is a unique geological formation of such exceptional beauty that it has long captured the imagination of both local and foreign artists. 

La Moreneta

The cult of the Virgin of Montserrat, popularly known as "La Moreneta" because of the dark material of which she is sculpted, is the most popular cult in Catalonia. The Black Madonna is made of wood and was made between 12th and 13th century. The `moreneta´, whose full title is "Mare de Deu de Montserrat", is housed in the Benedictine abbey that has become world famous because of its boy´s choir and school of music. People believe, like in similiar other cases, that the statue has supernaturel abilities like curing or fullfilling whishes. The statue was declared "The Saint patron of Cataloniaé by Pope Leo XIII in 
1844.

Montserrat

This monastery was also unfortunately notorious during the Franco regime for being a stronghold of Catalan culture and language. In direct defiance of Franco’s anti-Catalan laws, the monks of Montserrat continued celebrating marriages and baptisms in Catalan. The monastery became a refuge for the many Catalan nationalists that remained underground until Franco´s death in 1975. You can reach this magnificent site by car, train, or by bus. When you get there you can enjoy a spectacular funicular ride straight up the steep mountainside.