Steve's Genealogy Blog

In the Basilica de Santa Maria de Montserrat are the tombs of Don Juan de Aragon, Prince of the Royal House of Catalonia, and Bernat II Vilamari, a Spanish Admiral who served the King of Aragon and the King of Naples and died in 1512 .  There is also a sculpture of King John I (Joan I), friend of Montserrat .  Outside the Basilica stands a sculpture of Saint George by Josep Maria Subirachs, the same sculptor whose works are seen on the Passion Facade of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona .  Note that, even with the photo of Saint George, as you move from left to right, Saint George’s face seems to move to follow you .  Finally, we leave Montserrat by lighting a devotional candle in the Ave Maria Path.

Tomb of Don Juan de Aragon

SOURCE:  Tomb of Don Juan de Aragon (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

Tomb of Bernat II Vilamari

SOURCE:  Tomb of Bernat II Vilamari (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

King John I

SOURCE:  King John I (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

Saint George

SOURCE: Â Saint George (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

The Ave Maria Path

SOURCE:  The Ave Maria Path (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

In addition to the famous Black Madonna, the Virgin of Montserrat in the sanctuary of the Mare de Deu de Montserrat, the Basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat includes side chapels lining the walls on both sides of the basilica .  These include a chapel displaying the Montserrat Pieta by Arimani, a chapel with a painting of the Flight into Egypt by Josep Cusachs, the Chapel of the Holy Christ with a crucifix by Josep Llimona, and the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception designed by Josep M. Pericas.

The Montserrat Pieta

SOURCE:  The Montserrat Pieta (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

The Flight into Egypt

SOURCE:  The Flight into Egypt (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

The Holy Christ

SOURCE:  The Holy Christ (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception

SOURCE:  The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

Once at the Monastery of Saint Mary of Montserrat, one approaches the basilica from Plaza de Santa Maria, enters a roofless, interior courtyard, and then enters the basilica itself .  Above the doorways to the basilica is a bas relief depiction of Christ and the Apostles .  Above the main altar hangs a crucifix with an ivory sculpture of Christ attributed to Michelangelo .  Behind and above the altar, one can see an arched window opening to the Black Madonna of Monterrat, commonly known as La Moreneta (The Dark-Skinned One).

Approaching the Basilica of Montserrat from Plaza de Santa Maria

SOURCE:  Approaching the Basilica of Montserrat from Plaza de Santa Maria (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

In the Courtyard before the Basilica of Montserrat

SOURCE:  In the Courtyard before the Basilica of Montserrat (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

Christ and the Apostles above the Door to the Basilica of Montserrat

SOURCE:  Christ and the Apostles above the Door to the Basilica of Montserrat (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

Inside the Basilica of Montserrat

SOURCE:  Inside the Basilica of Montserrat (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

From Barcelona, my journey took me to Montserrat, site of a monastery high in the mountains .  The views were magnificent.

Monasterio de San Benito de Montserrat

SOURCE:  Monasterio de San Benito de Montserrat (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

Rocks and Arches

SOURCE: Â Rocks and Arches (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

View Area at Montserrat

SOURCE: Â View Area at Montserrat (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

The View from Montserrat

SOURCE: Â The View from Montserrat (Montserrat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 04 August 2011.

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko