One of our more interesting experiences was a 30 mile side trip west of Barcelona to Montserrat. This 4055 foot tall mountain is part of the Catalan pre-coastal range and is noted for being host to the Benedictine abbey "Santa Maria de Montserrat." Approximately 700 feet above the monastery are a series of abandoned caves believed to have been inhabited by reclusive monks (hermits) as far back as the 6th century. There is some indication that Romans may have constructed a temple to Venus on this same mountain as long ago as several years before the birth of Christ. There is even a myth that states Montserrat is the location of the Holy Grail from the Arthurian legend. Our purpose for visiting Montserrat was to see the Benedictine Monastery. Originally built in 1409, this abbey serves as home to the famous "Black Virgin", and one of the oldest boys choir in Europe - the Escolania (they give a short performance every day at 1:00pm). An easy one hour train ride from Barcelona's Plaza Espanya took us to the base of the mountain. That was the easy part (at least for me). We then took a hair-raising cable car ride 3000 feet UP THE MOUNTAIN (where , at times I was convinced that we would bang into the side of the cliffs: we were that close) to the monastery level. Another funicular ride brought us up to the hermitage near the top of the mountain. The views from up here were absolutely fantastic! The weather was ideal! It was a great day visiting this most important religious retreat in Catalunya. Now...do we really have to take the cable car back down off this bloody mountain? The monastery is way up there on the right. Up we go! A view of the Abbey from the end of the overlook. The tracks through the middle of the picture are the rack-railway from the base of the mountain (why didn't we choose that method of going up the mountain?). View of the Abbey from the cable car station. Can you imagine 100,000 people filling this patio area for the dedication of the monastery? The courtyard leading into the basilica. The workmanship on the statuary is fantastic. It must have taken the construction crew forever to get all the material they needed for this project up the mountain. The main aisle towards the high altar. Close-up of the high altar during one of the Escolania's (boys choir) performances.The horse shoe shaped opening above the altar is where the "Black Virgin" is located. One of the most visited sites on the mountain is this room above the altar with the "Black Virgin." Many of the folks we saw said a short prayer in front of the statue and then touched the orb for good luck. Looking towards the back of the basilica from the gallery above the high altar. High above the Abbey are the hermits' caves dating back to the sixth century, at least. While the caves have been abandoned for quite some time, evidence of previous habitation can still be seen. The trail winds around the top of the mountain. Just below the caves is this little chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. We felt that we were on top of the world...but I wondered why they didn't provide us with oxygen masks. Go figure. The views from up here were spectacular! Time to head back down. Oh my! No matter whether you were going up or down, the views were great! ( If I only could have kept my eyes open, I probably would have enjoyed them more).
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Carl and Lorraine Aveni are two retirees planning on traveling through Europe for at least one year.
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