La Cafeteria De Montserrat

This monastery will take your breath away. I got tickets the night before through montserratvisita.com and the audio for a self-guided tour that comes with the ticket is very helpful. Getting there: The info was a bit confusing...if you travel by public transportation, ask for directions on the best way to get there. The subway is great and very efficient if you have a good idea of where you are going as there are hardly any officers or staff to talk to. Checking in: It is worth stopping by the office of tourism by the entrance of the site. I showed them my tickets and they gave me a prayer card and a medallion of Montserrat. It 's beautiful! The site: It 's huge, which is delightful. Even if you have tickets to enter in the afternoon, get there early as there is so much to see and do. I wanted to see the interactive museum and take the cable car but we ran out of time. The cable car is very busy as it is a popular attraction, as well. Eating there: There are plenty of options but pricey. Based on the cost of food in the cafeteria Vs the restaurant, I 'd recommend considering going to the buffet. The food looked really good but we were there late (around 3pm) and they were about to close. Supporting the site: It 's an amazing experience to see La Moreneta of Montserrat, so consider supporting her. There is a spot next to her for donations, so keep a few coins in your pocket. The space is tight and there is a long line behind you so you won 't have time to look for your wallet. There is just so much to see, but the Virgin of Montserrat remains the highlight of the trip.

This is a definite half day trip to take if you're spending some time in Barcelona. I would come as early as you can, to avoid all of the foreign tourists coming from Illinois. You'll avoid the buses and traffic and you'll enjoy the serenity of the serrated mountains (Montserrat). I understand that you can take a train up here and then jump on either the tram or aerial cable car up the mountain. So if you don't want to come by car or bus, you have those options. There's a lot to see with the Basilica, the museum, the architecture and there are monks living onsite but we didn't see any whilst on this trip. Maybe they were up late at night, the night before and decided to sleep in?? There are also restaurants here but we decided to have a heavy, late lunch (Cuitat Comtal) which we deserved due to our 45 minute round trip hike to the Cross. Thus, make sure to wear appropriate shoes and maybe bring a parasol (a light weight umbrella) with UV protection (I know that's an Asian thang). We took the aerial cable car down and that was fantastic and I'm sure that's scary on a windy day. All in all, this is an Awesome trip so make sure to do it. Fun fact Did you know that Sagrada Familia was built using large stones from Monserrat?? And if you don't know, now you know (It was all a dream).

Obviously this is a must do in Barcelona. We went with a tour which ended up being about a half day trip (we were back by dinner). What a breathtaking experience. First, you have the backdrop of the mountains which really elevates everything. Then, you have the abbey itself which was beautiful. So much detail went into every aspect of the decor it can be difficult to describe. Obviously there are a ton of rules as there usually is for religious experiences. I will say, I find the dress code to be a hit or miss. I wore long pants and covered shoulders, but there were other women in a tank top and they got in just fine. Personally, I like to err on the side of caution because you never know. Also, they do not allow tourists in during certain points of the day (I think it coincides with masses). Therefore, our tour felt kind of rushed, but I was still able to see everything and take it all in. Your best bet would be to take a tour as they will time everything for you including the tickets and you can just sit back and enjoy. This is an absolute must though!

Just breathtaking!!! Words truly cannot describe how incredible Montserrat is. Visiting Montserrat during my trip to Spain was my favorite activity to partake in. Not only is Santa Maria Abbey absolutely striking from the inside out, but the town of Montserrat is so incredibly charming and the scenic views are practically endless. The adventure begins with the ride there. Montserrat is located about an hour outside of Barcelona. You can certainly drive there on your own if you're renting a car, but just be prepared for a long, windy, and steep drive up the mountain. I was able to schedule a bus transfer through my Go City Barcelona pass (highly recommend this pass if it's your first time visiting Barcelona). What's nice about being driven there is that you're able to take in the wonderful views the entire way there and back. This is not a drive where you can pull over and take pictures either. So, there's an advantage to not driving yourself if you choose to be driven. The drive takes you through the majestic terrain of Montserrat Mountain. When I arrived, it literally felt like I was in the clouds. I mean, the views are absolutely KILLER! The town is small, so you can take a walk through most of the streets while you're there. There's also a neat cable car ride, a museum, and beautiful hiking trails there if you have enough time to explore. I didn't make it to the museum and didn't get on the cable car, but I was able to see the cable car traveling through the air. I did embark on an hour hike to the Cruz Sant Miguel. When I tell you that this was one of the most gorgeous hikes that I've done, I ain't lying! you are literally so high up with the most amazing views of the city, clouds, and mountains. It was almost like I could touch the clouds! This was a fairly easy hike with the exception of the inclines at some points. You can definitely some serious hikes here. I think one of the hike is about 9,000 feet of elevation gain. You can see the inclining trail from the top of Cruz Sant Miguel. It's extraordinary. Not to be missed is a visit to the lavish Santa Maria de Abbey. I've seen my fair share of monasteries, and Santa Maria is definitely one of the most immaculate churches that I've ever seen. My mouth literally dropped as soon as I walked inside. Remarkable architecture. You will feel moved even if you aren't religious. Make sure you stop by before Mass begins as they will close the doors and nobody will be permitted until it concludes. In the hall next to the abbey, there's an area filled with lit candles. You can light your own for about €1. It's a really pretty presentation. There are tons of shops and a few restaurants and cafes that are all within walking distance of the abbey and hiking trails. The shops here have some great souvenirs and crafts. If you're in Barcelona, I highly HIGHLY recommend taking a day trip here to explore Montserrat. It's a nice little break from the city and it's also a wonderful way to explore all that Montserrat has to offer.

January 2023: Monday Morning Visit Among all the places I visited in Barcelona, Spain my absolute favorite attraction was an hour away and that was the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. My friend and I took did a private tour where our tour guide picked us up from our hotel and drove us to the monetary. It was about a 45 minute drive, but travelers may also take the train to get there as it's a more affordable option. The grounds here are very peaceful and the monastery itself is very grand. My jaw dropped when I stepped foot inside; however, the claim to fame at this monastery is the Black Madonna, which is a statue of the Virgin Mary with dark skin and Baby Jesus. There's different speculations about why this artifact is indeed black, but you can't help but be curious to see it in person! She's located in a little cooridor behind glass on the 2nd floor. FYI the Black Madonna is not open from 10:30am-12:00pm as the have service during that time. My group went at 10am and the time to go up and we thankfully were able to see her within 15 minutes. I've heard that if you go after noon the line gets crazy, so go early if possible! After you see the Black Madonna you'll walk back down to the first floor and be taken into another room with gorgeous stain glass windows. I've visited quite a few churches in Europe and this one definitely is one of the top ones, so be sure to visit if you're in Spain!