PRIVATE MONTSERRAT HALF DAY TOUR
- Personal pick-up & drop-off : time and place that suits you best
- Private Transport - luxury minivan up to 6 people
- Entrance fee to Monastery
- Licensed tour guide
- Tour Length: 5 hours
- Guided visit to the Montserrat monastery
- Kid and wheelchair friendly
Overview
For many visitors, the Montserrat tour is the highlight of their visit. Montserrat is a spectacularly beautiful holy mountain with dramatic rock formations and nearly 1000 years old Benedictine monastery. Venture into a Catalan countryside, learn about Montserrat Abbey, “La Moreneta” or Black Virgin. Discover the restoration works that the great modernist master Josep Puig i Cadafalch made in this sanctuary and the contribution that Antoni Gaudi left in the holly mountain.
ITINERARY
You will be picked up at your hotel in Barcelona, and we will drive south-west, along the valley of river Llobregat. We will drive past several small towns, crops and mountains. After approximately 50 minutes, we will reach the Monastic site of Montserrat. The views are astonishing, you will be delighted to learn about the legends and the history of the place. Upon arrival, your guided tour consists of a visit throughout the Basilica and Monastery, with free time to explore the site on your own afterwards. There are many activities to choose from – you may want to touch the Black Madonna, visit the one of the best museum in Catalonia with Picasso, Caravaggio or Dalí works, make your way to the Holy Cave, ride a funicular to the top of the mountain, or shop at the farmer’s market. At 1pm you will be able to listen to the boy’s choir that usually sing every day except Saturdays and on school holidays. The Escolania choir is one of the oldest Boy’s Choir in Europe, and it is absolutely an experience to see and hear them sing.
Montserrat is one of the most sacred places that exist in Spain. It was always venerated by kings and emperors and is an obligatory place for religious people and nature lovers who want to know a little about our history and natural diversity.
ADDITIONAL INFO
- As a general rule, the Boys’ Choir sings from Monday to Friday at 1:00 pm and on Sundays at 12:00 am. They do not sing on Saturday. They are on holidays in July.
- Keep in mind that the agglomeration of visitors to see in high season the children’s choir of 10m is considerable and overshadows the environment and the energy of the place.
- The Children’s Choir has two main daily performances:
- 13:00 – Salve and Virolai
- 18:45 – The Salve montserratina
The weather in Montserrat is colder than the city center. Wearing a sweatshirt or sweater will be a good idea.
Comfortable clothes and shoes are recommended as there is some walking involved.
If you have reduced mobility, please contact us before booking. We do our best to welcome everyone on board
Cablecar*: If you are not scared of heights you can choose option of cablecar to get to the monastery. The ride takes less than 5 minutes, and even if guides can’t skip lines, there isn’t usually many people when we get there. Not recommended for people with walking issues either, as the walk from the upper station to the Monastery is uphill and involves some steps.
WHAT WILL YOU SEE
Montserrat is a mountain, a unique Natural Park, a massive rock over 4000 feet high, visible for miles, with weird shapes and rounded peaks that just into the sky; there are walks, paths, stairs, with caves and hermitages scattered over the mountain, and mysterious rocks and wonderful views.
Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery nearly 1000 years old, perched half way up the mountain and sheltered by its peaks. This is the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Montserrat, popularly called “La Moreneta” as she is black, patron saint of Catalonia and a presence strongly felt and revered. and for nearly a thousand years Benedictine monks have lived atop the mountain to welcome pilgrims to her shrine.The community of monks also run a boys’ school devoted to the study of music, and a famous choir. The choir is made up of 30 boys, 10 to 14 years old, and considered one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Europe, documented from 1223.
Montserrat museum with paintings by Greco, Picasso and Dalí among many others and treasures from ancient Egypt including a mummy. Our Lady’s Chapel, located in the Basilica, is usually open from 8:30 to 10:00 and from 12:00 to 18:30.
Penedés region is one of the most important wine and cava regions in Catalonia. Penedés land is between the sea and the mountains, and this influence of the sun and the sea makes that Penedés region is considered one of the country’s best wine-producing regions after the Rioja, it is also one of the most ancient viticulture areas in Europe.
WHY GAUDÍ TOURS?
- Skip line at all top sites. No need to pre-purchase tickets yourself.
- Experts in Gaudí and Modernism
- Professional and fully licensed local guides
- Totally flexible.
- We adapt to your interests.
- Small Group preference (1 – 9 people). We use individual radio guide for each assistant with big group.
- Travel tips from friends: recommendations to help you plan the rest of your stay in Barcelona.
Rates
This private tour is chauffer-driven car/minivan at your service during the 5 hours of the private tour.
Feel free to ask any question about this private tour ask at info@gauditours.net