To beat the crowds, we booked an early access tour to Montserrat, a Catholic monastery set high atop a mountain outside of Barcelona. Picture hundreds of stone pillars of similar but differing sizes lined up next to each other. Stone was brought down from this area to build the cathedrals of the city.
Atop this mountain sits an amazing cathedral, monastery, and school.
Our friendly and knowledgable guide explained that 17 monks are currently living in the monastery, and tours are not allowed inside. Also, the students are not here since it is their summer break.
There is a Hermitarium on the very top of the mountain. Monks go there to retire. The path is obscured so tourists cannot find it. I don’t know why anyone would try. It looks like a long, hard journey.
We walked up a steep staircase to get to the outer courtyard.
But there was an option for a sloped climb if anyone preferred.
Upon entering the archway of the building, we viewed several tombs prior to reaching a second courtyard in front of the cathedral.
Our guide explained that there are crowds of people later in the day and no way to get a photo without others in it if we had waited until later. So glad we got up for our 5:30 AM departure from Barcelona.
This is a closeup of the sculpture above the cathedral doorway.
We entered the cathedral and walked along a pathway to the right toward the front to view the “Dark Virgin,” a wooden Madonna holding baby Jesus.
This sculpture has darkened over time, probably due to oxidation. Fortunately, we were allowed access with no line AND were allowed to take photos since there was no line. Typically the crowds are so great and the line is so long, that they do not allow time for photos.
After viewing the Dark Virgin, we descended the stairs and entered a small chapel.
Outside of this chapel, candles were offered for sale if someone wanted to light a candle at the cathedral.
Some of the Stained Glass Windows
The AV museum showed a video about Montserrat and a video of a concert featuring the boys’ choir. A lower-level museum had many artifacts and tapestries, and a display showing raw granite, honed granite, and polished granite taken from the area and used in the buildings.
A walking path nearby allowed for great pictures of Montserrat and of many sculptures along the way. Musicians, hoping for tips, played in some of the alcoves.
We purchased a postcard and had it postmarked and mailed from Montserrat, then we boarded the bus for the return to Barcelona. 
Next post, Part 2 of Day 3: The Old City Walking Tour.