Our Lady of Montserrat, Romanesque statue in Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain.
Our Lady of Montserrat is a medieval wooden sculpture located in Monistrol de Montserrat in Spain, showing Mary seated with the child Jesus. The carving stands around 95 centimeters tall (37 inches) and both figures wear gilded crowns, while the darkened wood gives their faces a deep tone.
Legend says shepherds found the figure in a mountain cave in 880, which led to the building of a chapel at that location. The monastery later grew around this site and has housed the sculpture ever since.
The Catalan nickname La Moreneta refers to the dark color of the wood that gives the figure its recognizable appearance. Pilgrims line up daily to approach the statue and touch the sphere held by Mary.
The figure sits behind the main altar of the basilica in a raised area reached by a staircase. Visitors can approach the sculpture but should expect waiting times, especially on weekends and feast days.
The right arm of Mary was originally extended but was sawed off at some point and later replaced with the current sphere. The child Jesus holds a pinecone in his right hand, a symbol rarely found in Romanesque sculptures.
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