Essential Catalonia - Montserrat and Barcelona City

If you have limited time on the Costa Brava and wish to see more of Spain, this is a great trip for you. Offering the two main attractions of Catalonia - Barcelona, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe, and the mountain of Montserrat, a natural place of great beauty housing a monastery with over one thousand years of history.

Discover the wonderful Mediterranean city of Barcelona, and stand in awe at Montserrat, the symbol of Catalonia!

Montserrat is a symbol a Catalonia situated in the holy mountain outside Barcelona. This impressive Monastery contains the Moreneta (Black Madonna), the patroness of Catalonia. Once upon a time it was considered the home of the Holy Grail, and today it is a prime cultural and tourist attraction, as well as one of the most important pilgrimage spots on the Iberian Peninsula.

The setting is in itself worth making the trip. The bizarre rock formations of Monserrat surround the monastery and adds to the mystique of the site.

Afterwards you will head for Barcelona and take a tour through the city. All the major sites, such as the "Sagrada Familia", "Las Ramblas" and the mountain of Montjuich will be seen. There will be some free time for shopping before returning to the Costa Brava in the early evening.