Menu System
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona: A travel journal by Jay Langhurst

Montserrat and Montjuic: A view from above

22/09/2002
Montserrat, Spain


Ah, Montserrat, one of the first stops of Saint Ignatius of Loyola following his conversion. Here he laid his sword down at the Basilica so famous for the statue of the black Virgin Mary, which has a cult following in Spain. Here you see the gondola that travels up and down along the mountainside, the easiest way to get up to the main sights after the easy train trip from Barcelona. The name of the Mountain is Montserrat, meaning serrated or cut mountain...a very fitting name due to the terrain of the mountain.
Img_2568


Looking out over the countryside away from Montserrat
Img_2588


Here we are, on the mountain, quite the little town up here.
Img_2593


We're not in Kansas anymore, I can't say as I've ever seen a beer vending machine before, you saw it first here... Even better, this is the good stuff, it must be if it's called Damm Beer. The cost - 1.50 euro, cans are usually much smaller in Europe than in America.
Img_2594


Who could forget good old Abat Oliba, the founder of the Monastery at Montserrat
Img_2595


Yep, 12 guys and God...the normal drill
Img_2596


There's a statue commemorating Ignatius' visit
Img_2598


And a nice plaque
Img_2606


Another view of the Basilica
Img_2602


There were no photos (or noise for that matter) allowed in the Basilica. In fact, they had lots of little signs that flashed on and off with "Silence" in many different languages. When you first entered the Basilica at the front you stood in a glass room before entering, so I assumed photos were allowed from there, considering it was nearly soundproof. So, here's your photo of the Basilica of Montserrat. At the back center, in a room back a bit and above the altar is the statue that is one of the claims to fame of Montserrat. I did visit the statue, but considering there were no photos allowed, didn't get anything inside the Church. Besides, other people were taking photos, and the statue is surrounded by silver, which nicely distributes the flash from their cameras ACROSS the entire Basilica...not very nonchalant.
Img_2612


The courtyard just outside the Basilica.
Img_2613


After going up to see the statue of the Virgin Mary, you can pay for a candle, light it, and place it along a wall. But, after you carefully place the candle, a few nice men come along, pick up all the candles and aggregate them in an orderly area...I suppose prayer isn't quite efficient enough for them...
Img_2621



Img_2624


You can't imagine how many tourist-looking people I had to wait to finish to find somebody cute/honest enough to get a good "I'm putting this candle here" photo
Img_2629


I don't know if this is a special spring or anything, but this lady seems to think it's good enough to use to refill her water bottle.
Img_2630


More candles...
Img_2633


An arch over a side-entrance to the Basilica
Img_2639


The serrated mountains in the background
Img_2643


More of the countryside
Img_2649


I would have walked all the way across to this cross, but it was a long way, and I didn't have all day, so this photo should suffice. In the foreground are the cables for the gondola.
Img_2655


A gondola travels up the mountain as a small shrine sits below
Img_2657


Montserrat, from below
Img_2673

The Jewish Mountain of Barcelona lies ahead...

           Next Page

Created and maintained by Jay Langhurst - e-mail

This homepage and all the images are copyright Jay Langhurst and may only be used under the author's express permission.
Index page Photographic Portfolio My Resume New stuff About Jay P. Langhurst Links