Santa Cueva de Montserrat

Take a halfday trip from Barcelona to Monserrat. See views from the mountain, visit a famous monastery, and take a walking tour. Be picked up from your Barcelona accommodations in the morning and enjoy the most exclusive views of this spectacular natural setting, the Holy Mountain. This rocky monument is known for the whimsical shapes of its peaks soaring through the sky, its valleys and caves, giving an appearance of mysterious beauty. The mountain, 2,380 feet above sea level and surrounded by magnificent scenery, is home to the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, which you will visit on this tour. This religious site includes the Basilica, where you’ll see the Virgin of Montserrat, known as the Black Madonna. This is a venerated 12th-century Romanesque carving characterized by its unique dark color, hence the nickname. After visiting the monastery, your guide will take you on a walking tour to take in the stunning views from the site that was declared a national park in 1987. Next, you’ll visit the Holy Cave, where legend has it the Virgin appeared. It is now a center of pilgrimage and prayer. To conclude the tour, you can enjoy listening to the angelic voices of La Escolania de Montserrat, one of the oldest children's choirs in Europe. You will return to Barcelona with the guide at around 2:30 PM if you take the morning tour, or at 8:30 PM if you take the afternoon tour.

Depart Barcelona and drive towards the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range for a morning visit to the Benedictine abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat, world-renowned for its shrine to the Virgin of Montserrat, also known as the "Black Madonna." Marvel at the monastery and its surrounding scenery on a curious-shaped rock that rises 2,380 feet above sea level. Go inside the monastery to see its main attractions, including the Romanesque icon of the "Black Madonna" thought to date back to the 12th century. Get unparalleled views of the magical landscape, declared a national park in 1987. Next, visit the Santa Cova ("Holy Grotto") where, according to legend, the virgin appeared before some shepherd children in a vision. Benefit from the chance to hear the angelic voices of La Escolania de Montserrat (Montserrat’s Boys’ Choir ), one of the oldest children's choirs in Europe (subject to seasonal availability). Then, head to Sant Sadurní d'Anoia in the heart of Catalonia's cava wine producing region and visit Premium Cava Winery, where the tradition of making sparkling wines date back almost 5 centuries. Visit the cellar and descent to the dungeons where the wine is secretly kept for several years. Learn by the hand of an expert viticultor on wine production and grapes growing. Taste 3 varieties of local wines and cavas paired with traditional cheeses and cold meats while enjoying great views of the Catalan countryside with the Montserrat mountain at the background. Hear about the process of producing cava at a family business that first produced it according to traditional methods in 1872, and by using grapes from the Penedès region.