Montserrat

For a hefty dose of symbolism, you need to go to Montserrat. There, nestled among the rocks of the Montserrat mountain, you will find an ancient monastery where around seventy Benedictine monks still reside today. In the building, you can admire La Moreneta. This statue of Mary represents the Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalonia, and is the main character in a Catalan legend. The original statue was said to have been discovered in a cave but was too heavy to move. The local bishop then decided to build a monastery around the statue.

In Montserrat, you can also indulge your musical heart. Every day, except Saturday, Escolania, one of Europe’s oldest boys' choirs - with a strict selection process - gives its best performance. Sweet singing voices abound.

Catalan Tourist Board