Air-conditioned and licensed round trip transportation from your excursion meeting point! All fees and taxes included! English and Spanish speaking and trained Barcelona shore excursion guides. Ride the scenic cog train up to the monastery! View the picturesque countryside of Catalonia! Visit the Royal Basilica of Montserrat! Free time to view La Moreneta, the black Virgin of Montserrat! Opportuni
ty to taste handmade liquors, Aromes del Montserrat! Travel through the picturesque Catalonia countryside to Montserrat. Enjoy an amazing cog wheel train ride to up the mountain to the Royal Basilica of Montserrat and Benedictine Monastery. Your meeting point for this Barcelona Montserrat and Cog Wheel Train Shore Excursion is a 20-minute taxi ride from your Barcelona cruise pier where you will be greeted by your guide staff then you'll board the air-conditioned transport. As the transport departs from the center of Barcelona, your guide will fill you in on the local history of Barcelona, Montserrat and the famous monastery. You will drive to the mountain of Montserrat and its Benedictine Monastery, located approximately 90 minutes northwest of Barcelona. The drive will take you through picturesque farmland passing occasional small villages in contrast to the jagged peaks of Montserrat. The peaks of Montserrat have been carved over the centuries by the wind and rain and can be seen long before you arrive. They stretch 4,051 feet into the sky. Upon arrival, you will board a cog wheel railway to make the scenic 15-minute climb to the basilica. The rail follows the dramatic shape of the mountain, offering panoramic views of the valley and the mountain peaks. Do not forget your camera! Arriving at the upper station platform, your Barcelona Montserrat Cruise Excursion guide will lead you up the several flights of steps to reach the Royal Basilica of Montserrat plaza. Tucked away in the side of the mountain and combined with the neo-Romanesque architecture, the surroundings are breathtaking. Construction of the monastery began in 1025 AD, built on earlier Roman ruins and soon began to receive pilgrims and visitors who spread the stories of miracles and wonders performed by the Virgin. In the late 12th-century, a Romanesque carving of La Moreneta (the Black Virgin) was acquired by the monastery and it has drawn pilgrims ever since. After an approximately 30 minute orientation of the grounds, you will be given free time to explore on your own. In addition to the amazing grounds and views outside, there is a museum, restaurants and shops. You may explore inside and view the Black Virgin from a passageway that circles behind the altar where she is located. You even have a chance to taste some of the handmade liquors made by the monks, Aromes del Montserrat. At the appointed meeting time, you will walk with your Barcelona shore excursion guide to your waiting coach for the drive back down to Barcelona and the Plaza de Catalunya. From here, you may choose to return to the cruise ship directly, at your own expense, or explore and return at your leisure if time allows. Taxis are readily available. Note: This Barcelona Montserrat and Cog Wheel Train Cruise Excursion is also available without the cog wheel train ride - Barcelona Montserrat in the Morning Excursion.
