This is the place of the black madonna. The catherdral which houses the Madonna was built after a vision of her was seen in a cave (saint carva). It is about an hours drive to Montserrat from Barcelona. Montserrat means mount of serrated sides- the mountain is very unusual in its formation and the Cathedral is at the very top. The drive up is a steep windy narrow path with a sheer cliff on the one side.
They make the most beautiful cheeses here - all organic and family owned buisnesses which sell their produce at the markets. We totally indulged in buying cheese, the traditional fig cake and the local liquor.
This afternoon has been in the gothic streets of Barcelona. Our tour guide took a small group of us through the back allies of the gothic style streets. You really understand how brutal life was in Barcelona during Franco's rule when you walk these streets. We were shown a small square with a church and and a school and leant that the extensive damage on the walls was due to the bullets fired by hisfiring squad when they executed people. He would line people up, 6 deep along the wall and fire. Keep in mind that the wall of the buildings were then as they are now, the outer wall of a school and a church.
There are bridges built between buildings in the gothic area so that Franco did not have to walk onthe streets to get around the town. This was as he was afraid people would kill him and he felt he was above the common people to walk amongst them.
Off to a flamenco show tonight👍
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