Begin by meeting your guide in the center of Barcelona, from where your unique experience begins. Join your group in an air-conditioned private vehicle for the journey up the mountain of Montserrat. Enjoy the views as you hear about Montserrat’s Basilica and Monastery, home of la Moreneta (Black Madonna). Unlike other tours, this experience allows you to gain early access to visit the Montserrat Monastery, well before the crowds arrive. Upon your arrival, enjoy a 45-minute guided tour throughout which you learn about Montserrat including its secrets. This tour also sees you visiting the farmer’s market and entering the basilica. You guide then explains all the fun activities you can do with your 2 hours of free time following the guided tour. You can visit la Moreneta (Black Madonna), enter the museum, taste the monastery’s homemade liquor, go to an easy walk to the Saint Miguel, take the Sant Joan Funicular, and much more.

Visit Montserrat Monastery on this half-day trip from Barcelona.  Scale Montserrat Mountain on the cogwheel train. Admire the beauty of the monastery's architecture and hear stories about its famed Black Madonna statue. Board a bus from Barcelona and set off on a ride to the magical mountain of Montserrat. Discover its rocky geography, beautiful scenery, local liquors, and cultural wealth with a guide. Follow your local guide through the site and learn about the history and architectural style of the monastery. Fall in love with the Gothic and Renaissance details of the basilica and sanctuary. Then, learn about the legend of the miraculous apparition of the Black Madonna and Child in the cave of Santa Cova. Visit the Church and see the Black Madonna. Enjoy free time to taste the finest liquors, shop for locally produced treats or visit the audiovisual exhibition once the guided tour finishes.

Upon arrival at the monastery, northwest of the city, learn about the lives of the monks in the monastery and sacred mountain. Visit the Museum de Montserrat and see a collection of artifacts that range from Egyptian mummies to canvasses by Picasso. Although much of the collection was lost in the Napoleonic War, the museum continued to add to its collection, and the museum is now home to important works of 20th-century Catalan art. See archaeological finds from Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and Palestine. Admire old paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries by artists such as Morales, El Greco, and Caravaggio. Fall in love with the Renaissance architecture of the 16th-century basilica. Go to the atrium and sacristy, and see the permanent collection of images of the Virgin Mary. If you book the option that includes entrance to the Monastery, you will enjoy a liquor tasting.

Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and journey to Montserrat Monastery in the mountains of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range. Enter the museum to see relics from Mesopotamia, Egypt and Palestine, and admire 13th to 18th-century paintings by Morales, El Greco and Caravaggio. See the beautiful atrium and sacristy of the Benedictine abbey, and get an appreciation for the singers and teachers through an explanatory audio visual demonstration. Get some free time back in Barcelona before your guided tour of La Sagrada Familia. Go inside the unfinished basilica and learn about the symbolism representing the Holy Family. 

On this morning tour, beat the crowds and discover Montserrat monastery and its rugged surroundings before the throngs of other tourists arrive. Depart Barcelona and journey by air-conditioned bus to the romantic, rock-hewn monastery complex of Montserrat. Get an introduction to the history of the medieval site as you make your way through the beautiful countryside. Follow your guide directly to the largest building on arrival and learn the story of the abbey and shrine to the Black Virgin of La Moreneta that attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Discover some of the best viewpoints to take in the drama of the sacred site and get recommendations about contemporary art galleries and museums to visit or places to eat. Finally, savor the local specialties like herbal liquors made by the monks to the typical local pastries.   

The experience starts in the upper part of Passeig de Gràcia, before journeying to experience the natural splendor of Montserrat, Catalonia’s most emblematic mountain. Topped by a Benedictine Monastery, Montserrat is an ideal half-day trip to spend a fun day in nature, just a few kilometers away from Barcelona. On the way to the Monastery, admire the Massif of Montserrat, a spectacular multi-peaked rocky range packed with unique needle-shape formations. Upon arrival, visit the Monastery, which was founded in the 10th century and still functions to this day, with over 70 monks. It is also well-known for hosting the figure of La Moreneta (visit not guaranteed) , who is the patron saint of Catalonia. Your guide will bring history alive by explaining the history of this Monastery dating nearly a thousand years, considered now the cornerstone of the Catalan culture, history, nature and spirituality. Finish this amazing guided visit tasting some of the most typical sweets and catalan pastries: garrapiñadas (caramelized nuts) mel i mató (cheese drizzled with honey) from the local farmers and liquors made by the monks of the monastery. You will also have some free time before returning back to barcelona.

Get picked up at your hotel or apartment in Barcelona and head straight to Montserrat in private transport, approximately an hour's drive away. Once at the top, your guide will take you on a walking tour through the monastery explaining the geological formation of the mountain and the history of the virgin, Black Madonna. Visit the church, where you can attend a mass and enjoy the beautiful interior design, and see the unique chapels accompanied by your guide. You'll also have the opportunity to visit the museum which houses one of the most incredible collections of art in Catalonia, complete with sculptures, drawings, and paintings. Here, you'll see pieces from Picasso, Dali, Caravaggio, Monet, Sisley, Renoir, Rusiñol, and Pisarro - to name a few. You'll enjoy the stunning views and the unique landscape of the area and then have time to sample and purchase the well-known cheeses and honey from Montserrat in the market. You continue on to a local restaurant where you'll have a marvelous three-course meal taking pleasure in the exclusive gastronomy of the area. Have a complimentary glass of Cava, Catalan Champagne. Next, your guide will take you to have an unforgettable experience in a small production family-owned winery where you'll learn all about the process of wine production from the vineyards to the table. With your guide, you'll listen to a specialized enologist who will immerse you in this magical world of wine. You'll have a private tasting of different local grape varieties like Macabeu, Xerello, and Parellada amongst others from other countries.

Escape the hustle and bustle of beautiful Barcelona for the afternoon as you enjoy a private half-day tour to the stunning Montserrat Mountain. Poised atop the mountain of Montesrrat, the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat is a must-see for those interested in religious history and breathtaking views.  Built 1,000 years ago, the Abbey remains one of the most popular destinations for Christians worldwide, with many choosing to go on a pilgrimage here each year. Admire the wonderful mountain views and the impressive Basilica at the top of the mountain, considered by some as the site of the Holy Grail. If tantalizing your historical knowledge isn't enough then feast your eyes on the picturesque landscape situated around the monastery as you make your way to the top of the Montserrat. Be sure to capture the sprawling scenery and spectacular rock formations on camera, these sights can't be found every day! A trip to the area's traditional food markets for the chance to sample some local delicacies is a tasty way to conclude your tour.