Half Day Montserrat Private Tour

Every winter, there is a tradition of a particular meal that can be eaten in Barcelona and surrounding areas : it is called "Calçots". The Calçots are kind of a large onion (30 cm/10 inch) that gets grilled and stored wrapped in newspapers to keep them warm. To eat them, you have to peel the black grilled skin with your hands and deep the onion in a delicious sauce called "Romesco". Looks strange the first time, but is absolutely a must-do experience, extremely well appreciated by locals. They are traditionally eaten during the calçotada, a type of outdoor feast or barbecue, which typically takes place between the months of January and April. It you ever come to Barcelona around February, you have to definitely taste them. Although you can eat them in Barcelona, the best experience is to leave the city for a day trip somewhere (for example Montserrat) and have lunch in a restaurant in the countryside to enjoy this experience as a local. However, the best Calçots can be found in Reus. Reus is a city located in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital of the Baix Camp comarca, located in the south of Catalonia, about 106 km south-west of Barcelona and 38 km west of Tarragona. It is well known for being the birthplace of the architect Antoni Gaudí and for being close to the Costa Daurada beaches.
The climate in Reus is typically Mediterranean, with mild winters and warm summers. In winter the climate is pretty dry and temperatures can drop to 0-10 degrees Celsius (32-50 degrees Fahrenheit) which makes it a good spot for the cultivation of the Calçots. Rainfall is generally low, with most of the precipitation falling during the autumn and spring months. Overall, Reus has a mild and pleasant climate that makes it a great destination for tourists all year round. Bon profit!

One hour away from Barcelona, inside the Monastery of Montserrat , you can admire this wonderful Romanesque wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary with the Baby (XII century), also known as "La Moreneta" because of the dark color of the wood, result of an oxidation process. As you can see Mary is holding a sphere, symbol of the universe, and Jesus is blessing and holding a pinecone, symbol of fertility and eternal life. Her devotion began in the IX century, when some young shepherds saw a light inside a cave and, moved by their curiosity, discovered an image of the Virgin Mary. Thanks to this, a chapel was built on the mountain: it was the origin of the monastery we can admire nowadays.

Description of Montserrat At just 1 hour driving distance from Barcelona, there is one of the most beautiful natural icons that can be found in Europe. From many centuries, Montserrat has been considered special and a sacred place, where millions of Pilgrims have been traveling to visit its sanctuary. The Montserrat mountain is not only a unique landmark because of the Benedict abbey from the XI century. It also has an outstanding, beautiful natural landscape and incredible sights. The shape of the mountain looks like a saw. Indeed, the name Montserrat means “sawed mountain”. This particular mountain has its layout formed more than 50 million years ago. At that time, in this area there was the delta of a huge river that collected a huge amount of sediments and composites (the sea border was 50km -30 miles- than where it is now). Those composites, after getting dry, rose up when most of the mountains appeared in the south of Europe/north of Africa. Then, the wind and rains, after centuries, created the stunning shape we can see today.

Montserrat is declared a natural park and offer many hiking routes with incredible views where you can enjoy beautiful sights. Different hiking possibilities from Montserrat Abbey Once you reach the Abbey (you can reach it from the Cable Car, by vehicle or even walking from Monistrol de Montserrat) there are plenty of options for you to walk around depending on your capabilities. Here you have some options but we recommend you to look further in case you want to find additional hikes: Sant Joan Cable Car round hike: This is a simple and easy hike that can be done from the top of Sant Joan Cable Car till the Sanctuary. It is around 1 hour walk downhill and it has very nice views around the natural park. Sant Jeroni Trail: This hike is a bit challenge and takes you to the highest point of Montserrat, Sant Jeroni (4055 feet). The trail sometimes might get a bit steep and rocky, but the views from the top are incredible. It takes about three to four hours to complete the round trip. A priceless moment is to enjoy the sunset or the sunrise of this incredible spot. Santa Cova Trail: This is a shorter trail that takes you to the Chapel of Santa Cova, which is believed to be the place where the Virgin Mary appeared to a shepherd boy. The trail is easy to moderate and takes about an hour each way. In order to enjoy the stories of the Abbey and the Sanctuary, we recommend taking a Montserrat private tour with an official tour guide to learn all aspects of this outstanding landmark. Cavall Bernat Trail: This is a challenging hike that takes you to the iconic Cavall Bernat. The steepest monolith in Montserrat with breathtaking views. The path gets very steep at certain areas and requires some scrambling, but the views from the top are worth it. It takes about three to four hours to complete the round trip. A perfect plan to enjoy the nature Overall, Montserrat is an excellent mountain for hiking, offering a perfect combination of natural beauty, cultural significance, and accessibility. A beautiful mountain range that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. From the peaks, you can see the city of Barcelona, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Pyrenees Mountains in the distance. There are many trails on Montserrat that cater to hikers of all levels, from easy and short walks to more challenging routes. The trails take you through stunning landscapes, including forests, rock formations, and meadows. At the same time, the trails on Montserrat are well-marked and maintained, making it easy to explore the mountain safely.

The Abbey of Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery located in the Montserrat mountain. The abbey is home to the Virgin of Montserrat, a Black Madonna statue that is said to have been discovered by shepherds in the 9th century. The statue is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Spain and is also known as the "Moreneta" (the little dark one). This façade, in front of the main square of the sanctuary, is the entrance to the church. It was rebuilt after the invasion of Napoleon in 1812, who burned and plundered the sanctuary. The façade is dominated by 3 main elements: the 12 apostles and Jesus in the center, a big rose window and a clock at the top. Just in front of the façade, there is a cloister, reflecting the main elements of this sanctuary since its foundation around the 12th century. There are several elements that reflect the life of the monks that live in the abbey, such as paintings and sculptures. Currently, there are around 70 monks leaving in the sanctuary, although it is quite rare to find them in the public space of the abbey.