MONTSERRAT – The Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, located in the Bages region of Barcelona, has decided to charge tourists from abroad for entry fees to their facilities. This new measure came into effect on Wednesday 3 May.
With the money paid by the foreign visitors, the monastery will finance social projects and the maintenance of the monastery complex. Non-residents in Spain can purchase different types of tickets for prices ranging from €6 to €23, depending on the areas of the monastery they wish to visit.
This includes access to the basilica, adding a visit to the Camarín de la Mare de Déu, attending the Canto de la Salve or the Virolai, or the full tour. Moreover, in all cases it includes an audio guide, according to La Vanguardia.
Free entry for residents of Spain and people staying in Montserrat
Residents of Spain and people staying in Montserrat, such as in the monastery hospice, the Hotel Abast Cinseros, the apartments Cel·les Abat Marcet and the Abat Oliba hostel, can still participate in religious services free of charge. However, they must continue to ‘buy’ tickets for capacity control in order to attend the Cant de la Salve Regina and the Virolai or the monastic mass on weekends and holidays, as well as to be able to visit the ‘camarín’.
The entrance fees for foreign tourists will be used to fund social projects and maintain the monastery complex.
The monastery
The Sanctuary of Montserrat is a Catholic monastic complex located in the mountains of Montserrat in the Bages region of Catalonia. It is located around 50 kilometres northwest of Barcelona. Set in spectacular scenery, the monastery is admired for its architecture, as well as the cultural and religious significance it holds for the region.
Black Madonna
The monastery was founded in the 11th century and has since undergone several renovations and expansions, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries. Furthermore, it is home to the famous Black Madonna, a dark-coloured image of the Virgin Mary. Moreover, as legend has it, this dates back to the 9th century. The statue is also considered one of the most revered icons of Catholicism in Catalonia, attracting thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year.
Gregorian chants
In addition to the monastery’s religious significance, it has also played an important cultural role in the region. The monastery has a museum with works of art by various European masters and has a choir known worldwide for its Gregorian chants. Furthermore, the complex attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.
