MONASTERY OF MONTSERRAT SPAIN
Monasterio de Montserrat España
Santa Maria de Montserrat is a Benedictine abbey located in the Montserrat mountain, in Monistrol de Montserrat, in Catalonia, Spain.

THE LEGEND
The legend goes like this: the statue was discovered by some shepherds attracted by a blaze they had been seeing for seven Saturdays in a row , whitch came from inside a cave near Montserrat sierra. The statue had been hidden inside the cave some centuries ago in order to protect it from the consequence of the Muslim occupation in the Iberian Peninsula. The popular tradition tells that, once the statue was found, the bishop of Barcelona decided to return it to the city but the Virgin wanted to remain in the mountain; when it was beigin transported, after some stops in order to rest, nobody was able to put the figure up from the ground, so in that precise place the sanctuary was built.

Home of many reported miracles (and the belief that this was also the mountain where the Holy Grail was found) Montserrat quickly became Spain's most important place of pilgrimage after Santiago de Compostela.

Santa Maria square, whitch leads to the basilica of Montserrat, is a work made by architect Josep Puig i Cadalfalch and is composed of three terraced squares, preceded by some gardens were we can find a beautiful gothic cross from the 15 century.

The basilica of Montserrat belongs to the 16th century, with architecture placed between the githic tradition and the new Renaissance forms, incipient on those days in Catalonia.

The nave, with 23 meter high, 58 meters long and 15 meters wide present in its head the chorus of monks and the high altar. The pilars in the center of the nave are decorated with figures carved on wood which represent the propheets Jeremias, Isais, Ezequiel and Daniel, created in 1896 by Josep Llimona.

On of the lateral gates placed to the right side of the portico will lead us to the place where we will be able to visit the sculpure of the Virgin Mary of Montserrat. According to the popular belief, the Moreneta was carved by Sant Lucas in front of the natural model. This is the first sculpture of the Virgin, brought by Saint Pedro in one of his trips to Barcelona, remaining installed in a catacomb, where today Saint Justo church rises.....

The Escolania.
One of the most valuable and traditional treasures that the monastery possesses is the vocal choir called the Escolania. Nowadays it counts with about 50 guys who apart from studying music and chants in order to become a member of the Escolania are receivers of intellectual and human preparation, deserving a reknown prestige in Catalan society.

Camino de la Santa Cova - Saint Cave
This path is maked with 15 sculpture groups which represents the corresponding mysteriers of the Rosary. It was built with the economic support of popular associations, institutions and other individulals. Finished in 1910, prestgious architects, sculptors and Catalan artist took part in it. Architects Antoni Gaudi, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia. Sculptors: Josep Llimona, Agapit e Venanci Vallmitjana.

The Museum.
The Basilica houses a museum with works of art by many prominent painters and sculptors including works by El Greco, Dalí, Picasso and more. Montserrat Museum

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