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Culinary Travel Culinary Routes Wine and Monasteries | Wine and Monasteries |
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Page 3 of 4
2. Barcelona – Montserrat Monastery – Manresa – Ripoll
 The Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery (often referred to as just "Montserrat") is usually high on the list of typical guidebooks for excursions outside of Barcelona, as it lies a mere 31 miles from the city. Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery situated atop the mountain of Montserrat -- at 2,362 feet above sea level -- in the Comarque of Bagés.
Manresa has great dining options and its local cuisine -- called cuina de seca or "dry cooking" -- includes main ingredients such as bacallá (cod), “cap
i pota”, “morro i tripa” de ternera, bolets and wild game.
And, of course, Manresa has great wine since it is located in the heart of the the Bagés D.O. region.
About an hour from Manresa is the town of Ripoll, where you will find unique local cuisine. If you visit in the winter, a required meal is Escudella Catalana, which can be found in any restaurant. Meat plays a big role in local cuisine, and lamb -- which can be found roasted, cooked over an open fire or in stews -- is one of the more popular ingredients here. Desserts are also popular here, among them the famed crema catalana and mel i mató.
Ripoll is home to one of the most important architectural jewels in Catalan culture, the Benedictine monastery of Santa María de Ripoll, (pictured at right) which was built in the year 870 by Guifré el Pelós. This monastery is extremely well-preserved due to remodeling and restoration efforts over the centuries.
From Barcelona, take the A-7 towards Tarragona for about 30 miles. Here you'll find the town of Vilafranca
del Penedes, the capital of L´Alt Penedes, one of Catalunya's most important wine-producing regions. The town-s most outstanding historical monuments are to be found in the city center, among them the Santa
María Basilica, which dates back to the year 1285.
Another must-see is the 18th century Palacio Real, along with another palace (located next to the Basilica) the 14th century Palacio Balta. And if you are traveling in August, you must not miss the festa nacional (Catalan national day), which brings with it the impressive castellers (human castles) and the diada castelera (Castellers Day). In the Penedés region you can enjoy the most traditional dishes to the most modern. The region is famous for its dishes featuring "feathered animals" such as the black rooster or the "mute duck". Other prime ingredients are the mediterranean staples of cereals, vegetables, fish and seafood, the latter primarily from region's main port, Vilanova i la Geltrú. You also have to try the almond "cocas", accompanied by one of the great wines of the region.
After visiting Vilafranca, we recommend stopping at the Santa Creus monastery. This cisterciense monastery dates back to the XII century and has a Romanic and Gothic details. King Jaume I of Catalunya ordered its building in 1313 and in 1921 it was designated a national monument.
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Just a half hour away from Montserrat, if you take the C-55, you'll find the city of Manresa.
Manresa is a stand-out among Catalan cities because of its breathtaking historical monuments, such as the the 14th century Basilica of Santa María de la
Seu (pictured at left) and also because of its wines and wineries. If you are stopping in Manresa, you must visit an ancient estate called La Masía, built in 1199. The Roquetas family owns and operates the property which houses below ground the cellars where some of the best wine of this region is made.
A visit to one of the most important wineries in Spain is also in order. The Bodega Torrés (pictured at left) is where famous wines such as Sangre de Toro are made.
