Day Trip to Montserrat & Penedès Wine Region, Barcelona

Enjoy a day trip from Barcelona to the surrounding countryside and wine region. A private driver will pick you up and take you to the 16th-century Benedictine monastery of Santa María de Montserrat, Catalonia's holiest site. Then make your way to the cava wine hills, the Penedès Wine Region. Enjoy visiting a family-run vineyard and tasting three examples of Spanish wine, including cava, red, and white. Your excursion ends with a traditional tapas lunch while enjoying views of the Penedès region.

A day trip into Barcelona's surrounding countryside is an excellent way to experience Catalonia's culture and heritage, especially when visiting its holiest site and most famous wine region. You'll start your excursion at 7:30 am, meeting a private driver at your hotel and traveling about one hour to the 16th-century Benedictine monastery of Santa María de Montserrat. An early start means enjoying the famous monument without the typical crowds. 

You'll enjoy a private walk through this historic site, which sits on a mountain of 4,055 feet (1,266 meters). Enjoy the truly spectacular views as the morning light illuminates the monastery and its surrounding peaks. With the help of your guide, you'll explore places like the basilica, where above the altar hangs an impressive statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, also known as the Black Madonna. As you stroll, you'll learn about the architectural significance of the Gothic-style monument and how the Escolanian Boy's Choir has been performing Gregorian chants for centuries (and why they're important to the Benedictine fellows). 

After walking through the monastery, you can enjoy free time to explore the site. Consider taking the funicular to nearby Santa Cova, the "Holy Grotto," where you'll find a religious shrine in a mountain cave. This has also been an important pilgrimage site for centuries. Or, opt to visit the Museum of Montserrat, which features archeological items from the monastery's long history and paintings by masters like Caravaggio, Dalí, and Picasso. 

In the afternoon, you'll head to the cava wine hills in the Penedès Wine Region, one of Spain's most famous wine-growing areas. You'll visit a family-run vineyard and enjoy a tour of the estate, tasting three Spanish varietals, including a cava, a red, and a white. To finish your excursion into the Catalonian countryside, enjoy a drive through the beautiful wine country and stop for a tapas lunch overlooking incredible vistas. 

Your driver will bring your back to your accommodation in Barcelona in the late afternoon.