INFORMATION

Montserrat Mountain is a national park of exquisite beauty where Mediterranean vegetation combines with unique rock formations being at once the location of Catalonia’s most revered monastery; The Monastery of Montserrat. The 11th century Benedictine monastery, where one of the most important Benedictine communities in Europe resides, was also the place where the founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola was converted. Within the monastery is found the Sanctuary of the Mother of God of Montserrat, this is Catalonia’s most sacred place. Locally, she is called “La Moreneta” (“the Black Madonna”) due to her dark colour and has been the patron saint of Catalonia since 1881. A mere touch of her statue by the faithful is said to bring miracles and healing to the sick.