After a short train ride from Barcelona, a cable car takes you a couple thousand feet up to the Montserrat monastery.
An alternative to the cable car is the rack train. One arrives at the same location as the cable car and then a couple others go higher up the mountain. This…
The courtyard outside the monastery hanging above the valley floor.
One of the buildings outside the monastery.
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey is a Benedictine Abbey and site of believed visitations by the Virgin Mary. It's also considered to be one of the potential…
Entrance to the Basilica.
Beautiful marble courtyard outside the Basilica entrance.
Inside the Basilica. Awe inspiring for me. Of the multiple cathedrals I saw on this trip, Montserrat was unquestionably my favorite. To add to the effect, the…
My attempt to record the organ music in the Basilica. Definitely need a better mic to capture the rumbling low tones. For best performance, you can view the…
Above the altar, looking back towards the entrance. This is an active church and home to one of the top choirs in Europe.
The Black Madonna (Virgin of Montserrat) depicting the Virgin Mary in the alcove above the altar.
A side chapel in the Basilica.
Cami de l'Ave Maria. Patrons light candles in homage to the Virgin Mary. The flickering colors in the dimly lit alley are beautiful.
Leaving the abbey area, there are great statues everywhere. My plan for the day was to run to the Sant Jeroni (Saint Jerome) summit above the monastery. It's…
The information center said it was a 4 hour round trip to the summit. I had a little over 2 hours until the last cable car left. If I didn't catch that one, I'd…
Looking back down at the monastery as the trail climbs steeply.
Lots and lots of (very interesting) stairs.
Looking up at the Serrats (serrated peaks) near the summit. I believe one of them may be Sant Jeroni.
The upper section of the trail is beautiful, tree covered single track.
La Ermita (Hermitage- place of religious seclusion) de Sant Jeroni.