Santa Maria de Montserrat, Benedictine abbey in Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain.
Santa Maria de Montserrat is a Benedictine abbey in Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain, located 720 meters (2360 feet) above sea level among rocky peaks. The complex combines Romanesque origins with Gothic extensions and later Renaissance elements visible in the courtyards and galleries.
Four chapels from the 9th century formed the core of the later monastic complex, which became an independent abbey in 1409 under Pope Benedict XIII. The Napoleonic Wars led to the destruction of many buildings in the early 19th century, which were reconstructed in the following decades.
The name comes from the Catalan words for serrated mountain, which describes the jagged peaks surrounding the site. Visitors today can hear the choir of young singers maintaining centuries-old choral traditions during daily services in the basilica.
The site can be reached on foot or by rack railway that departs from the valley below, making the steep ascent easier. Visitors should note that religious ceremonies take precedence and certain areas may not be accessible during services.
A 12th-century wooden sculpture known as the Black Madonna resides in its own chapel with a separate entrance beside the main altar. The dark color of the figure likely resulted from centuries of candle and oil lamp smoke, which gives it its distinctive appearance today.
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