Culture, gastronomy and wine: excursion to Montserrat and visit to a winery

Description

Many say that, if Barcelona is the head of Catalonia, Montserrat is its heart. This uniquely silhouetted massif is easily the most famous Natural Park in northeastern Spain, and the impressive monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat hangs scenically in its centre, between peaks and cliffs. Not for nothing do the locals call this mountain range the Mountain of a Hundred Peaks. Nature, landscape, history, culture and religion combine in Montserrat in a unique blend that is hard not to find spectacular. As a result, this place is full of locals who decide to spend their day off walking its many trails, hiking its peaks, visiting its priceless art museum or, of course, marvelling at the great basilica at the heart of the monastery. Inside the basilica, a small wooden statuette of a dark-skinned Virgin Mary stands atop the altar. It is Saint Mary of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia, popularly known as "La Moreneta". A key figure, protagonist of myths and stories about miracles and healings. Her presence attracts thousands of visitors every year, making this visit a sacred one. After the Arab invasion, the lands around Montserrat were left unproductive and the Benedictine order that inhabited the monastery cultivated the vineyards that have survived to the present day. For this reason, and because Montserrat is located in an incredible Mediterranean setting, you can find beautiful vineyards and very interesting local wineries in the area.