Montserrat is a Catalan religious shrine of great power and mystery. For many years, it performed the only marriage ceremony and offered the only Masses in the Catalan language. La Moreneta, Catalonia's beloved Black Madonna, presides over the church nestled among the stone spires. It has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries due to the 12th century miraculous statue of the Black Madonna.
The view from the back of the bus - the driver backed into this location! It's a long way down there. The Pyrenees are on the horizon.
The monastery, which is also a school for musicians. The round portion of the building is where we celebrated Mass. The cranes are involved with the construction of a railway from the valley to the monastery, as a way of alleviating the road journey, and also to assist with parking, which is somewhat limited at the top.
Looking back towards Barcelona, I think. The reflective patch in the middle, below the clouds, is the Mediterranean Sea.
We took the path to the St. Joan Chapel. It was a little rough in places, as can be seen here. It also works its way along the rocks on the far side.
The Chapel of St. Joan. It was locked, and appeared to be unused. There was also an abandoned, and somewhat disintegrating, building on the rock wall behind the chapel.
The view of the main monastery from the top of the funicular railway.
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