inside the basilica Montserrat, whose name means 'serrated mountain', plays an important role in the cultural and spiritual life of Catalonia. It is Catalonia's most important religious retreat and groups of young people from
Barcelona and all over Catalonia often make overnight hikes to watch the sunrise from the heights of Montserrat. The
Virgin of Montserrat is Catalonia's patron saint, and is located in the sanctuary of the Mare de Déu de Montserrat, next to the Benedictine monastery nestling in the towers and crags of the mountain. There are generally about 80 monks in residence. The
Escolania, Montserrat's Boys’ Choir, is one of the oldest in Europe, and performs during religious ceremonies and communal prayers in the basilica. The
basilica houses a
museum with works of art by many prominent painters. The ''Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat'', a
publishing house, is one of the oldest presses in the world still running, with its first book published in 1499.
Basilica of Montserrat facade of the church built by Francisco de Paula del Villar y Carmona Initial construction of the basilica of Montserrat began in the 16th century, and its complete reconstruction began in the year 1811, after being destroyed in the
Peninsular War. In 1881
Pope Leo XIII granted it the status of
minor basilica. The facade was realized in 1901, the work of
Francisco de Paula del Villar y Carmona in
Plateresque Revival style, with sculptural reliefs of
Venanci and
Agapit Vallmitjana i Barbany. After the
Spanish Civil War a new façade of the church was built (between 1942 and 1968), with the work of
Francesc Folguera i Grassi and decorated with sculptural reliefs of
Joan Rebull (
St. Benedict,
Proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary by Pius XII and
St. George, with a representation of the monks who died during the war). Additionally, it bears the inscription
Urbs Jerusalem Beata Dicta Pacis Visio ("Blessed city of Jerusalem, called the vision of peace"). At the foot of the frieze with the relief of St. George is sculpted the phrase "Catalonia will be Christian or it will not be", attributed to a bishop
Josep Torras i Bages, which has been assumed as a political motto of Catholic root. This facade precedes the church proper, which is accessed through an atrium. Here are the 16th century sepulchres The church is of a single
nave, 68.32 meters long and 21.50 wide, with a height of 33.33 meters. It is supported by central
columns, carved in wood by
Josep Llimona i Bruguera, representing the prophets
Isaiah,
Jeremiah,
Ezekiel and
Daniel. At the head is the main altar, decorated with
enamels (1928) of
Montserrat Mainar, depicting various
biblical scenes, such as
The Last Supper,
The Wedding at Cana and
The Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. The 15th century cross on the altar is the work of
Lorenzo Ghiberti. On the altar there is a
shrine of
octagonal form. In the
chancel there are various paintings by
Alexandre de Riquer,
Joan Llimona,
Joaquim Vancells,
Dionís Baixeras and
Lluís Graner. Just above the main altar is located the room of the Virgin that is accessed after crossing a portal of
alabaster (Porta Angèlica) in which are represented various biblical scenes, work of
Enric Monjo (1954). The exit of the room is carried out by the Camí de l'Ave Maria, where it is customary to make offerings in the form of candles. Here stands out a statue of the
Angel of the Annunciation by
Apel·les Fenosa, as well as a
maiolica ceramic depicting the Virgin, the work of
Joan Guivernau. Around the central nave there are several
chapels. On the right are the
Saint Peter chapel with the image of St. Peter by
Josep Viladomat (1945); the St.
Ignatius of Loyola chapel by Venanci Vallmitjana with a painting of St. Ignatius by
Ramir Lorenzale (1893); the
St. Martin of Tours chapel, work of Josep Llimona, with the images of St. Martin,
St. Placidus and
St. Maurus (1898); the St.
Joseph Calasanz chapel with an
altarpiece of
Francesc Berenguer (1891); and that of
St. Benedict with a painting of the founding saint of the Benedictine Order (1980) by
Montserrat Gudiol. On the left are the chapel of
Santa Escolàstica, with sculptures (1886) by
Enric Clarasó and Agapito Vallmitjana; the chapel of del Santíssim (1977), work of
Josep Maria Subirachs, with a singular image of Christ realized in negative, where only the face, the hands and the feet are seen, with a light that illuminates the face to him; the Holy Family chapel, where the painting
The Flight to Egypt, by
Josep Cusachs (1904); the Santo Cristo chapel, with an image of Josep Llimona (1896) facing the painting of "The Pietà of Montserrat" by the doctor and painter Josep Lluís Arimany (1995); and the chapel of the
Immaculada Concepció (1910) a
Modernisme work by
Josep Maria Pericas, with a stained glass window by
Darius Vilàs. The basilica was restored between 1991 and 1995 by
Arcadi Pla i Masmiquel. In 2015
Sean Scully restyled Santa Cecilia Chapel which is next to the abbey.
Pipe organ The pipe organ of the church of Montserrat dates from 1896 and was moved to the presbytery in 1957. This pipe organ is very deteriorated. A new pipe organ was inaugurated in 2010 and follows the design of the Catalan pipe organs that are located next to the church. It is an important work of Catalan musical craftsmanship that places Montserrat at an international musical level. This pipe organ is designed by
Albert Blancafort, built by
Blancafort, orgueners de Montserrat, and financed by popular subscription and the social work of the
Caixa de Penedes. The pipe organ is located on the side of the nave, as is traditional in Catalonia, offering a very good sound throughout the church.
Cloister The cloister of the monastery is the work of the architect
Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1929). It is two floors, supported by stone columns. The lower floor communicates with the garden and has a fountain in its central area. On the walls of the cloister, the visitor can see old pieces, some of 10th century. The extensive garden includes the Chapel of Sant Iscle and Santa Victòria, Romanesque, access to the buildings of the novitiate and the choir and several sculptures, such as the marble of the "Good Shepherd" of
Manolo Hugué or some of the sculptures that
Josep de San Benet made in the 18th century for the bell tower of the monastery that were never installed.
Refectory The refectory is from the 17th century and it was rebuilt in 1925 by Puig i Cadafalch. The central part has a mosaic that represents Christ, while in the opposite area the visitor can see a triptych with scenes from the life of St. Benedict.
Museum The monastery has an important museum divided into three different sections: • Modern painting, with works by artists from Catalonia such as
Santiago Rusiñol,
Ramon Casas,
Isidre Nonell,
Joaquim Mir,
Salvador Dalí,
Joan Miró and
Antoni Tàpies, and non-Catalans like
Pablo Picasso or the painter
Darío de Regoyos, an Asturian, who was the only painter linked to the European impressionist and neo-impressionist movements; as well as a representation of French
impressionism, with authors such as
Pierre-Auguste Renoir,
Claude Monet,
Alfred Sisley and
Edgar Degas. • Archeology of the biblical East, showing objects from
Egypt,
Cyprus,
Mesopotamia and the
Holy Land. • Ancient painting, showing works by artists such as
El Greco,
Caravaggio (including an important
St. Jerome),
Luca Giordano,
Giambattista Tiepolo and
Pedro Berruguete. Other collections include Montserrat iconography and religious goldsmithing. == History ==