Among the other attractions of the city and around Barcelona, Montserrat Monastery is one of particular interest.
Montserrat is a mountain range in northern Spain, in the heart of Catalonia, near Barcelona. The mountains are very beautiful, sometimes bizarre forms of stone-like castles made of wet sand or huge statues that inspire both of you with admiration and horror. Benedictine monastery located in the mountains, which can be accessed on foot from the valley of the river Llobregat through mountain trails. This place attracts pilgrims and tourists for a long time, and in 1892 the tramway was built in the city Monistrol de Montserrat monastery. He was later replaced by cable car, but the old funicular railway still carries travelers from the monastery to the top of Santa Magdalena Mountains, where the path will lead you to the Hermitage of St. Jeroni.
Monastery of Montserrat was founded in 1025 Abbot of Ripoll and Oliba Cuxa. The first small Catholic churches and chapels have appeared here earlier in the ninth century. Then the land was conquered by the Muslim Saracens, as they were called. Abbe Oliba apparently resulted in the construction of the monastery, he was a renowned architect and had a great influence on the development of Catalan architecture, introducing elements of style Lombard. In particular, under his leadership the Monastery of Saint-Michel de Cuxa was expanded and rebuilt. Montserrat has seen many renovations, it was once destroyed by Napoleon’s army, and then re-built again. Last updated date 20 th century. Currently, the monastery holds about 100 Benedictine monks. There is also a guesthouse for pilgrims.
The monastery houses the statue of the Black Madonna (La Moreneta), a sacred object of pilgrimage. According to legend, the statue was carved St. Luke’s, and then moved to Spain by St. Peter. In 718, the statue was hidden in the mountains of Montserrat, the infidels, Saracens, and then was lost. 890 La Moreneta was miraculously discovered by shepherds in a cave, where they saw a mysterious light and heard angelic singing. At this place was built a chapel and the cave was named the Santa Cova.
The statue, currently housed in the monastery dates from the 12 th century. There are various theories explaining the strange black Madonna and child, but none of them is not sufficiently substantiated. It is likely that the statue was marred by soot from the many candles that were lit around him for several days and nights, over the centuries.
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