Montserrat

The Basilica sits at the very heart of the Monastery at Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. October 2011.

The whole of Montserrat is built around facilitating the worship of the Black Madonna in the Basilica. The Black Madonna was believed to have been carved in Jerusalem at the beginning of Christianity. It is a wooden sculpture and is one of the most famous Black Madonna statues in the world. In 1844 Pope Leo XIII declared the Virgin of Montserrat the patroness of Catalonia. The Black Madonna is sometimes referred to by other names, including 'The Virgin of Montserrat' and 'La Moreneta'. The Monastery at Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. October 2011.

The whole of Montserrat is built around facilitating the worship of the Black Madonna in the Basilica. The Black Madonna was believed to have been carved in Jerusalem at the beginning of Christianity. It is a wooden sculpture and is one of the most famous Black Madonna statues in the world. In 1844 Pope Leo XIII declared the Virgin of Montserrat the patroness of Catalonia. The Black Madonna is sometimes referred to by other names, including 'The Virgin of Montserrat' and 'La Moreneta'. The Monastery at Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. October 2011.

Montserrat's church is a Gothic structure that also uses Renaissance shapes and traditionally Catalan architecture. It was severely damaged during Napolean's war (1808 – 1814). This meant that it had to be reconstructed at the end of the 19th century. The Monastery at Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. October 2011.

The Monastery at Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. October 2011.

The Monastery at Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. October 2011.

The Monastery at Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. October 2011.

Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. October 2011.

The alternative way up the mountain. Montserrat, Catalunya, Spain. October 2011.