Panorama taken inside the Basilica at the Abbey of Santa María de Montserrat. The picture was taken at the front of the church. The statue of Mary is in an alcove high above the high altar. To the right is a line of pilgrims proceeding up the steps to the statue.

Basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat - Montserrat visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Catalonia.

The Benedictine Abbey of Santa María de Montserrat on Montserrat mountain originated in the 11C when it is said that shepherds found a small black statue of Mary on the mountainside. Little remains of the original buildings, the current basilica is from the 16C and the Mary statue, known as 'La Moreneta' (Little black one). The rest of the abbey buildings are from the 18C.

The abbey is a very popular tourist attraction, with 2.5 million visitors annually. The highlight or the abbey is La Moreneta, the black statue of Mary dating from the 12C. The origins of the statue are unclear, but one story states that it was carved by Luke in Jerusalem and then carried to Spain by Peter. Here it was lost until shepherds discovered it on Montserrat. The statue is adorned in regal robes and in September 1881 it was crowned by Leo XIII who had a crown sent from Rome. During busy times the pilgrims line the whole side of the basilica and even out the doors as they queue to pass before the statue. They then exit through a passage lined with candles back into the Placa de Maria.

Theologians and historians have disputed why the statue is black, querying if it had mythical or symbolic connection to Egyptian goddess Isis and son Horus, imitated earlier Christian Madonna statues styled in black materials, or even a reference to the Biblical scriptures in "Song of Songs". All theories about the Montserrat Virgin are acknowledged to be unsubstantiated and little more then chronological co-incidences.

Aside from the Mary statue, Montserrat has a valuable painting collection, library, and museum. Montserrat also has one of the oldest boys' choirs in Europe, which was formed in the 13C. This Escolanía choir has 50 members and at 1pm they sing 'Salve Regina' and the 'Virolai' (hymn of Montserrat) in the basilica.

Other panoramas from Montserrat:

• Cave of Pilgrim Candles
• Placa de Santa Maria
• Top of Funicular

Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat
08199 Montserrat (Barcelona),
Catalonia,
Spain

By Train: Take a train from Plaça d'Espanya in Barcelona followed by the Aeri de Montserrat Cable Car or Cremallera Funicular from Monistrol do Montserrat.
By Car: A2 north from Barcelona past El Bruc and then an 11km road round the mountains to the abbey. Alternatively take the C-55 west at Albera to Monistrol and a road up the mountain.