$85
Montserrat Morning Tour Visit the jagged and serrated mountain of Montserrat and its Benedictine Monastery on this morning tour. After departing from Barcelona, you will drive through the picturesque countryside dotted with little villages during the 90-minute drive to the incomparable setting of the mountain of Montserrat. Rising majestically to 4,051 feet, the peaks of Montserrat can be seen long before you arrive. The curving road around the mountain will offer you incredible views out across the valley. Upon arrival at the parking area, you will join your guide and climb several steps to reach the plaza of the Royal Basilica of Montserrat. Its cliff-side location and neo Romanesque architecture is a scenic wonder, but it is perhaps the famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of Virgen Moreneta, the Black Virgin, that draws so many to this mountain location. The Royal Basilica has been one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Spain for hundreds of years. After an orientation tour of the grounds and description of the basilica, you will be given ample time to visit the sites that interest you the most. On most weekdays, the children's choir sings in the monastery at midday. There is a museum, restaurants and shops, as well as the opportunity to view the Black Virgin from a passageway that circles the altar where she is located. You will also be given the opportunity to taste some of the typical liquors of Montserrat. At the appointed time, you will meet your transportation and begin the drive back to Barcelona. Please Note: Your tour departs from the Estacio del Nord area, which is near the Arc de Triomf. The tour ends near the Casa Batllo at Paseo de Gracia 43. The placa is the city center and the place where the old city (Gothic Quarter and Raval) and the 19th century-built Eixample meet. Some of the city's most important streets and avenues meet in Placa Catalunya: Passeig de Gracia, La Rambla, Portal de l'Angel and Ronda Universitat.
Barcelona is the cultural heartland of Spain, yet its first language is Catalan, the native tongue of the proudly independent Catalonia region. Stroll down the shady, tree-lined Ramblas between street musicians and elegant bistros. Then perhaps visit the venerable Gothic cathedral, Picasso Museum or enjoy the architectural genius of Antonio Gaudi's Church of the Holy Family.
As you will be visiting a religious or memorial site, shoulders and knees must be covered. Sensible, rubber-soled walking shoes, sun glasses and sun screen are recommended. Some guests may appreciate a light waterproof jacket, due to the mountainous climate in Montserrat.
330 minutes