6 Amazing Monasteries To Visit In Barcelona, Spain

monasteries in barcelona
Kapil
Kapil 
Published
| 4 min read

Known for football, architecture, art and breathtaking natural landscapes, Barcelona is a magnificent place to explore the magic of Spain. The capital city of Catalonia is home to the legendary Sagrada Familia, globally celebrated FC Barcelona football club and Museu Picassa, a true paradise for avid art lovers.

Apart from passionate football fans, flabbergasting architectures, and sunny weather, Barcelona is recognized for its history, culture, and struggles. And the best way to understand these is to visit Barcelona’s amazing monasteries. These monasteries will take you back in time, surprise you with their architectural beauty and make your trip an unforgettable experience. Scroll down further for more information on the amazing monasteries to visit in Barcelona, Spain.

1. Sant Pere de les Puelles

Barcelona - Església de Sant Pere de Puelles
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Carquinyol used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Constructed in the 945 AD period, Sant Pere de les Puelles is a sacred and beautiful monastery located next to Placa de Sant Pere in Barcelona, Spain. The Sant Pere de les Puelles church is the second oldest in town with Romanesque interiors and extraordinary architecture. The interior beauty of this place is spectacular and takes you back in time all the way to thriving and enraging days of Spain when it dealt with battles and struggles.

The insight of the church is remarkable: the ray of light coming from the glass window falling on the lower ceiling, the walls accenting the history of events and a peaceful environment to meditate and practice self-reflection. All in all, Pere de les Puelles is a peaceful and pleasant monastery to visit in when traveling to Barcelona.

Sant Pere de les Puelles

Address: Carrer de Lluís el Piadós, 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

Website: Sant Pere de les Puelles

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 1pm, 5pm - 7:45pm; Sat: 9am - 1pm, 4:30pm - 6pm; Sun: 11am - 1:15pm

Price: 5.71 USD

Visited this place?

2. Abbey of Montserrat

Monastery, Montserrat
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Orlith1 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located at a distance of 45 km (28 miles) from Barcelona, Montserrat Monastery represents the cultural, historical and spiritual aspect of Catalonia. The monastery is named after the 1236-meter (4055-foot) high white mountain it is set on: “Montserrat” means a serrate mountain and welcomes you with stunning views, flabbergasting insights, and cultural pride.

The architecture of this beautiful religious place boasts a perfect coalesce of gothic, romanesque, renaissance and eclecticism architecture. Tourists from different corners of the world make a voyage here to take blessings from Virgin Mary Basilica, the holy patron saint of Catalonia. Escolania, a popular religious choir group of 50 boys, sings and offers prayers in the monastery in honor of the Virgin Mary. The Montserrat Museum inside the monastery is home to accomplished artworks and ancient paintings by some of the renowned artists of Catalonia.

The best way to reach here is to take a train to Aeri de Montserrat and take a cable car from here which will take you all the way up to the monastery. Overall, making a day to trip to Montserrat Mountain will be a life-time experience for you.

Abbey of Montserrat

Address: 08199 Montserrat, Barcelona, Spain

Website: Abbey of Montserrat

Opening hours: 7am - 7:30pm (daily)

Price: 28.82 USD

Visited this place?

3. Monastery of Sant Cugat

Monestir de Sant Cugat - Vista general
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Josep Renalias used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Monastery of Sant Cugat is a beautiful Romanesque architecture based monastery located half an hour away from Barcelona. With tranquil grounds, stunning horizons, massive ceilings, and a peaceful atmosphere, Sant Cugat monastery is one of the finest monasteries of Barcelona and represents the cultural and historical heritage in the town.

The most tranquil aspect of Sant Cugat monastery is its serene cloister. Constructed in the 12th century, the cloister is a perfect blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, allowing you to walk around and be fascinated by the ambiance of this historic monastery.

The attached Sant Cugat Museum provides you with insights about monastic life and educates you about Romanesque architecture. Established in 2003, the museum was founded with a purpose to conserve and protect the beauty of Sant Cugat monastery, the cultural heritage of Barcelona. Overall, Sant Cugat Monastery is the best place to pursue self-reflection, take breathtaking photos and fall in love with its unmatched serenity.

Monastery of Sant Cugat

Address: 08172 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain

Website: Monastery of Sant Cugat

Opening hours: Sun: 10:30am - 2:30pm; Tue - Sat: 10:30am - 1:30pm, 4pm - 7pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 4.4 USD

Visited this place?

4. Sant Miquel del Fai

RI-51-0005209
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Elmoianes used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Perched on a beautiful cliffside, Sant Miquel del Fai is a hidden gem of Barcelona. The monastery is surrounded by monstrously ancient caves and fairy waterfall, thereby adding charm to its calm ambiance.

The pilgrimage site is located in the Cingles de Berti region of Catalonia and depicts a notable coalesce of Gothic-Romanesque styled architecture. Originally built in the 11th century, Sant Miquel del Fai Monastery is an ideal place to go hiking with friends, have a great day out with kids and enjoy the surrounding natural landscape.

Sant Miquel del Fai

Address: Espai Natural Sant Miquel del Fai, 08189 Sant Miquel del Fai, 08189, 08189, Barcelona, Spain

Website: Sant Miquel del Fai

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 8.86 USD

Visited this place?

Barcelona Tour Guide

Perry Tours

Perry Tours

Hello! My name is Perry, originally from the heart of Belgium, famed for its waffles and fries. However, it wasn't just the call of the Spanish sun that brought to Barcelona, but rather a captivating encounter with a German-Uruguayan beauty in Thailand. This led to the birth of our son in Ibiza, and eventually, more than two decades ago, I found myself in the vibrant city of Barcelona. My passion for meeting people from different nationalities and cultures, coupled with an insatiable appetite for adventure, has empowered me to transform ordinary days into extraordinary stories. In 2020, I embarked on a new journey by starting my own sightseeing company, showcasing the wonders of Barcelona to people from all over the world. With nine years of guiding experience in this magnificent city, I am thrilled to share its beauty and hidden gems with you.

Tours by Perry

5. Sant Pau del Camp

Monestir de Sant Pau del Camp
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pere López used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Set in the beautiful district of El Raval, Sant Pau del Camp is an 1100-year-old small church and represents the historical heritage of Barcelona. The monastery demonstrates Romanesque architecture with a modest cloister at its center. If you’re planning an escape from the hustle-bustle of the city, then Sant Pau del Camp is a heavenly place to visit.

Though located in the southwest region of El Raval district, you can easily reach here with the help of a metro, the nearest metro station being Paral-lel. All in all, Sant Pau del Camp is simply an oasis in a busy city to walk around, explore its historical importance and get mesmerized by its modest architectural design.

Sant Pau del Camp

Address: Carrer de Sant Pau, 99, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

Website: Sant Pau del Camp

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 1pm (closed on Sun)

Price: 3.32 USD

Visited this place?

6. Monastery of Pedralbes

Monastery of Pedralbes, early 14th century, cloister (1)
Source: Photo by user Richard Mortel used under CC BY 2.0

Originally named as Petras Albas, Monastery of Pedralbes is an ancient religious gothic-architecture based monastery. The monastery was built by King James II of Aragon and queen Elisenda de Montcada in honor of pristine Mary in the 14th century. Today, the Pedralbes Monastery features a fascinating three-story cloister where you can go back in time and explore the past of Barcelona. Also, the Pedralbes Museum is a medieval fan’s paradise that oversees the artworks of the monastery and it holds exhibitions at regular intervals.

Monastery of Pedralbes

Address: Baixada del Monestir, 9, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

Website: Monastery of Pedralbes

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 10am - 4:30pm; Tue - Fri: 10am - 1:30pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 3.32 USD

Visited this place?

Amazing monasteries in Barcelona

The monasteries in the vibrant and electrifying Barcelona represent the city’s historical, cultural and natural heritage. It helps you understand Barcelona’s past, its struggles and victories, and above all, its sacredness. Barcelona is home to numerous historical, prominent architectural and tranquil monasteries. Have a day out with friends, enjoy breathtaking views, explore the serene churches and dive into the culture of monasteries with our curated list.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

A content marketer by profession, solo traveler by hobby and a content creator by heart. I believe that the right perspective can drastically improve the quality of our lives and help us do great...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Barcelona
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.