Montserrat

Leave Barcelona by going south on the A2 freeway to exit 25 just outside of town. Turn right on NII to Martorell, an ancient town where the Llobregat River is spanned by the Puente (bridge) del Diablo, said to have been built by the Carthaginian general, Hannibal, in 218 B.C. He erected the triumphal arch in honor of his father, Hamilcar Barca. Continue on NII to Abrera and bear right on C1411 to reach Montserrat, whose ragged, stark-gray silhouette makes you see instantly why it is called “serrated mountain.” After entering the village of Monistrol, follow the signs to the monastery on top of the hill—about 7 kilometers, along a zigzagging road offering increasingly magnificent views. You can opt for the funicular (cable car ) from a clearly marked point just before Monistrol, if you would rather avoid the mountain driving and the sometimes severe parking problem up top. Taking the cable car certainly makes the trip more enjoyable for the driver. The golden-brown monastery at the crown of Montserrat contrasts strikingly with the jutting, gray peaks of the mountain. The setting is ultra-dramatic, and it is claimed that on a clear day you can see the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. The monastery church is home to the famed Moreneta, or Black Madonna. The figure, reportedly made by Saint Luke and brought to Barcelona by Saint Peter, was hidden in the Santa Cueva (holy cave) at the time of the Moorish invasions, then found by shepherds in the 9th century. This is the patron saint of Catalonia, and is venerated by thousands of pilgrims annually. Numerous marked paths and cable cars take you to various viewpoints, as well as the monastery, along the 22-kilometer massif.