A Breathtaking Day Trip from Barcelona to Montserrat

By: Katie McElynn

This weekend I took a day trip from Barcelona to Monserrat, and it may be the most must-see place that I have been to in Spain so far. The journey was very easy, I was able to take the metro just a few stops to get to the train station, and then I took the R5 train line all the way to the Aeri de Montserrat station stop. The ride on the train was a little less than an hour long, so I started reading my book as I sat, but I was quickly very distracted by the gorgeous views from the train windows, and spent the rest of the ride gazing out at the stunning views of the Spanish countryside, with luscious greens populating the mountains. 

Once you arrive at the train station, you still have a little further to go before you reach the main area with the monastery, but from the station it is very self explanatory. You can either take another train or the yellow cable car up the steep mountain side, and both are reasonably priced, but I would recommend buying tickets beforehand. I chose the cable car, and that was another gorgeous journey. While you are climbing a very steep route, the car feels completely safe and it has clear windows going all the way around, so everyone has a chance to watch the mountainside pass underneath as you go up.

I chose the self guided tour of the sites on the mountain, so when I arrived I headed to the information desk, received a map and some details about where I could find what I was looking for, and a little Montserrat charm as well. I put the charm on a necklace and now I wear it everyday, to remind me of this beautiful place. First I headed to the monastery to see the Virgin of Montserrat statue, which is what the mountain is most well known for other than its spectacular views.

As you walk through the monastery, the Black Madonna is one of the first things you come across. The child Jesus sits in her lap, and both are shielded by glass, except for the sphere in her right hand that is thought to symbolize the universe. It was quite beautiful to watch each and every person who walked by the Virgin lay a hand on the sphere as they passed, taking part in the legend of the healing powers that the sphere has for those on a pilgrimage to the holy figure. Continuing to walk through the monastery, you can see a gorgeous array of stained glass windows, ceilings decorated with paintings of religious figures, and entire rooms with shiny mosaic art covering the walls from floor to ceiling. Then, stepping outside, you walk towards a stunning arrangement of colored candles burning under decorated tiles of the Virgin of Montserrat. The candles have been lit by hundreds of visitors to the monastery, extending prayers for themselves, the world, or loved ones who have passed on. 

Leaving the monastery, you are then led to the Museum of Montserrat, to look at works by artists who have been influential in Spanish art, such as El Greco, Olga Sacharoff, and Joaquin Mir. There are also exhibits showcasing varying depictions of the Black Virgin, and displays of liturgical objects from the 12th to 15th centuries, including stunning gold and silver jewelry and cutlery. 

I then took a small hike up to the cross of Saint Michael, walking past statues of couples dancing and a man playing violin on the way up. When I say the view upon reaching the top was breathtaking, I am not using it as an idiom. The cross stood above everyone, seemingly in the clouds on the edge of this cliff, and the view below was like nothing I have ever seen. Staring out at the mountain range made me feel so small in the best way possible, and the shared awe of everyone who was up there gazing at this stunning 360 degree view of Spain made it a very beautiful moment. This day trip was an amazing experience, and just one of the many things you can look forward to if you choose to study abroad in Barcelona! 

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