Montserrat, Spain

On a beautiful sunny, crisp morning, we headed out from Barcelona to visit Montserrat Monastery, about an hour outside the city. As you get closer, the unique rock formations of the Montserrat mountain range really stand out. The monastery itself is built right into the mountainside, making for some great views of the surrounding area.

When we first arrived, the monastery was actually above the clouds, with a layer of fog sitting below the mountain. As the morning went on, the clouds slowly cleared, revealing wide views of the countryside.

The main basilica is home to the famous statue of Our Lady of Montserrat, also known as La Moreneta, the black Madonna. Visitors line up to walk past the statue, which has been an important pilgrimage site for centuries.

The terraces around the monastery are a nice place to walk around and take in the scenery. Unfortunately, we weren't able to hear the boys’ choir from the Escolania de Montserrat singing in the basilica.

Before leaving, we visited small stalls selling local cheeses, honey, and other regional products. Total disaster for a diet!Read more