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Public Tours around Barcelona

Montserrat, winery and Sitges

THE HOLY GRAIL

Wolfram von Eschenbach, in his Parzival (Medieval German tale) identified Montserrat as the location of the Holy Grail. It is the site of a Benedictine abbey, which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary. Sant Jeroni, the summit, stands at 4,055 feet above sea-level.

Jaume Codorníu founded the wine making family, and in 1659, the young Codorníu heiress, Anna, married Miguel Raventós. Their descendant José Reventós studied the methode champenoise in France and made the first Cava. The king of Spain Alfonso XIII visited the winery in 1904. The wineyards survived the Phylloxera plague, and in the early 20th century, Codorníu was producing over 100,000 bottles of cava a year.

Sitges, an ancient old farmers' and fishermen's town lies 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona and is famous for its Film Festival and Carnival, 17 beaches, art galleries, museums, gothic architecture, gay night-life, clubs, (the first Pacha Club)... restaurants and gastronomy.

On this excursion around Barcelona you will see:

• 1   Barcelona.
• 2   Parc Natural de Montserrat.
• 3   Sanctuary (Monastery, Basilica, Chapel of the Virgin).
• 4   Boys' Choir (depending on the time and day) and free time.
• 5   The Codorníu winery in Penedès.
• 6   Sitges.
• 7   Barcelona.