After all the pageantry of Semana Santa, I guess pretty much anything would seem a little anti-climactic, but it's hard to compete with a natural wonder. Especially one with high elevation and funky-shaped rocks to its advantage.
After returning to Barcelona, Andrew and I made a day trip to the Monastery at Montserrat. The Monastery and neighboring Basilica actually center around an iconic statue of the Virgin and Child known as the Black Madonna of Montserrat. Legend has it that this statue of was carved by St. Luke in 50 AD, but the scientific-type crowd estimates it was made closer to the 12th Century. Regardless, the Black Madonna has a shrine on top of a 4,000 ft mountain with 80 monks and a boys' choir. She is also reported to be responsible for not a few miracles, and is the patron saint of Catalonia.
Above: view from the Monastery, and arches near the Basilica
Spring Break is over, back to the classroom-Andrew heads back to the good old USA. Thanks for visiting, Andrew!
After an eventful Holy Week, Easter in Barcelona' Cathedral
1 comment:
The exterior of the basilica at Montserrat is absolutely beautiful. It truly is a mix of the old and new, with Gothic cloisters from the 1300s mixing with towers constructed as recently as the 1930s. The nearest city is Barcelona, where you can get a metro to Monastery. You will surely be struck by the beautiful atrium floor, which bears an inscription reading "Only those baptised and born in the water like fish can understand the meaning of the fish of Eucharist." I have no idea what that means! Outside the basilica you will also see the 14th century tombs of Joan of Aragon (not Joan of Ark!) and Bernat de Vilamari.
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