Short Trip to Barcelona

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Friday, 30 June 2017 - Took the train and cable car up to Montserrat to explore its serrated mountain peaks and historic monastery with the Black Virgin statue, hiked to the ancient church ruins and admired panoramic views over Catalonia, then returned to Barcelona for more sightseeing including hidden city churches, Gothic squares, and photo stops around the old town.

barcelona2017 — Up early for the trip to Montserrat. Following Rick Steves' directions it was pretty simple to find the right train. The trip took an hour traveling to the mountains to the west of the city.

Upon arriving we took the cable car into the mountains - quite a ride.

barcelona2017 — Montserrat "serrated mountains" rises up from the valley below. The unique rocks frame a monastery. Pilgrims have been coming here for thousands of years.

This is the monastery.

barcelona2017 — Upon arrival the line was already queuing up for the big attraction - the La Moreneta - a wood statue of the Black Virgin.

Waiting in line a statue of some religious figure - we liked the pup

barcelona2017 — Stone carving over the side entrance to the Black Virgin - showing a version in stone.

barcelona2017 — The Black Virgin encased in plexiglas except for the orb - you can touch the orb as you pass by.

Discovered in the Sacred Cave in the 12th century. Legend says she was carved by Saint Luke and brought to Spain by Saint Peter and hidden in the cave during the Moorish invasions. Carbon dating reveals it is 800 years old.

barcelona2017 — Gold mosaic in the room with the Black Virgin

barcelona2017 — Detail of the doors into the Black Virgin room

barcelona2017 — Vessel and mosaic in the chapel next to the Black Virgin

barcelona2017 — Road of the Ave Maria

barcelona2017 — Candles along the path of the Ave Maria

barcelona2017 — Along the path

barcelona2017 — Colorful votive candles illuminate the tile artwork

barcelona2017 — The inside of the Basilica which was built in the 1850s

barcelona2017 — The altar of the Basilica - in the center is the Black Virgin.

barcelona2017 — Detail of the altar

barcelona2017 — Beautiful arches in the Basilica

barcelona2017 — Rope chandelier

barcelona2017 — In the Basilica courtyard is a relief of the 12 disciples and Jesus

barcelona2017 — From the monastery looking to a cross on a far hill. We will be hiking there later.

barcelona2017 — The monastery and Basilica

barcelona2017 — After a ride up a funicular and then a mile or so hike we were way to the top of the hills behind the monastery.

High in the mountains are the ancient church ruins of San Juan.

barcelona2017 — In these caves hermits used rocks and bricks to wall off the sections to form living areas on the edge of the mountain.

barcelona2017 — The view from the top of the mountain toward Barcelona and the ocean beyond. Beautiful day.

barcelona2017 — Hymns explain how the mountain was carved by little angles with golden saws.

barcelona2017 — The Sant Joan Funicular allows you to ride 820 feet up and down the mountain.

barcelona2017 — Montserrat from the Sant Joan Funicular

barcelona2017 — The view from Saint Michael's Cross looking back to see all the monastery and the mountains.

barcelona2017 — Saint Michael's Cross.

barcelona2017 — A stone angle on the path to Saint Michael's Cross

barcelona2017 — After arriving back in Barcelona we had several hours until dinner so we decided to follow the Rick Steves' audio tour of Barcelona. We had already gone through several tours on Day 1 so this should be the same but there were new sites.

First up was the church of Santa Anna, hidden and tucked away right in the city centre. The church was begun in 1141 by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and is Gothic in style

barcelona2017 — The church of Santa Anna dome with stained glass windows surrounding the space.

barcelona2017 — The bell tower for the church of Santa Anna

barcelona2017 — Beautiful cross outside the church of Santa Anna

barcelona2017 — Opposite the Barcelona Cathedral in Placa Nova, is the building of the Architects Association with a series of sand-cast friezes around the facade, designed by Pablo Picasso

barcelona2017 — Back to the Cathedra of Barcelona for some additional pictures.

On the front of the cathedral the apostles stand in a row.

barcelona2017 — Looking up to the top of the cathedral dome

barcelona2017 — Small putti in one of the many chapels on both sides of the church

barcelona2017 — A saint in one of the chapels

barcelona2017 — The central dome is 85 feet high

barcelona2017 — The Cathedral has a total of 215 keystones, dating from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Our Lady of Mercy using her cape to shelter a pope, a king, a cardinal, a bishop and a canon on one side, and a queen, a nun and three other feminine figures on the other side. This one added in 1379.

barcelona2017 — The long arches on one side of the Barcelona Cathedral

barcelona2017 — The cloister is a garden surrounded by beautiful arches with a small fountain of Saint Jordi (George) slaying the dragon. Saint Jordi is the patron saint of Catalunya (we have seen him before).

barcelona2017 — A rather unusual sight are the resident geese who have been here for 500 years. There are always 13 geese representing the age of Saint Eulalia's and her 13 torments at the hands of the Romans.

Before electronic alarms these geese served that role for the cathedral.

barcelona2017 — Monument to the Martyrs of Independence - These are five Barcelona patriots, including two priests, calmly receiving last rites before being strangled for resisting Napoleon's occupation of Spain in the early 19th century.

barcelona2017 — This fountain was built in 1918 depicts ladies caring water in jugs. At this location in the 1800s was the last spot to water horses before leaving Barcelona. Currently 40% of the city still gets water from fountains.

barcelona2017 — Interesting door knocker

barcelona2017 — Street shrine high overhead

barcelona2017 — El Call "narrow passage" is the Catalan name for the Jewish quarter. At the peak there were about 4,000 Jews living in the Jewish Quarter. In 1492 they were driven from the city.

barcelona2017 — Gargoyle over the 15th century entrance to the government palace

barcelona2017 — Placa de Sant Jaume is a central square in the old part of town and is named after a church which once stood in the area. There are two government buildings facing off in the square.

This statue is on the building housing the government of Catalunya. Once again it is Saint Jordi (George) slaying the dragon.

barcelona2017 — Across the square is the Barcelona City Hall. This is the statue of Jaume el Conqueridor. The 13th century King Jaume I is credited with freeing Barcelona from French control leading to self control.

barcelona2017 — The flags on top of Barcelona City Hall - Catalan, Spanish, and Barcelona

barcelona2017 — Nearby is yet another dragon being slayed by Saint George - much older.

barcelona2017 — Wandering along the older Roman center of town, near the Cathedral, we entered a square framed by several very old buildings.

Looking way up is a tower of the Chapel of Santa Agata built in 1302

barcelona2017 — Carving on a street wall

barcelona2017 — The second tower of the Chapel of Santa Agata - also known as the Royal Chapel

barcelona2017 — Carving on a wall in the older part of town.

barcelona2017 — Can't get lost with this level of detail on the street signs

barcelona2017 — The Barcelona Cathedral in the distance from the narrow streets

barcelona2017 — After a long day of running around taking pictures we decided to do a touristy thing - eat at Els Quatre Gats - "The 4 Cats". This is the 1900 hangout for artists like Picasso. Picasso had his first one-man show in the restaurant.

barcelona2017 — The bar at the 4 Cats

barcelona2017 — A late night shot of the frieze designed by Picasso in 1962 on the Catalan College of Architects

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