Montserrat Mountain-Spain: Hi all- will be in Barcelona in September. Have read that a tour to Montserrat Mountain and Monastery would be great. Any ideas on when the best time of day...

mikedent Loc: Florida

Hi all- will be in Barcelona in September. Have read that a tour to Montserrat Mountain and Monastery would be great. Any ideas on when the best time of day for photos would be ie AM or PM tours or any travel tips? Want to avoid a lot of shadows of the countryside- thanks!

hogesinwa Loc: Dalyellup Western Australia

The railway is worth focussing on -afternoon would probably shade the track and the section where it changes passengers. Might be one of those times where overhead sun is needed?

mikedent Loc: Florida

Thanks- I just could not tell which direction the monastery and structures and views are positioned...

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

mikedent wrote:

Hi all- will be in Barcelona in September. Have read that a tour to Montserrat Mountain and Monastery would be great. Any ideas on when the best time of day for photos would be ie AM or PM tours or any travel tips? Want to avoid a lot of shadows of the countryside- thanks!

Best time of day for photos is before 9am and after 7pm. The first bus got there about 8:45am and the last left around 6. But that’s if you want to see and shoot without 9 million tourists and invalids trying to see the Icon in the Basilica. We stayed on property at the hotel and were very happy we did. The restraunt had a very good menu and wine list and you get to see everything with very few people around to photobomb the shots. During the day when the crowds are there you can take the incline up and hike around to the giant cross if your knees are up to it. Mine are not, so we only hiked a little bit.
The monastery and surrounding buildings face towards Barcelona, but you can’t see the city from there, other hills are in the way. Here is a unprocessed shot from the Hotel room.

(Download)

Collhar Loc: New York City.

mikedent wrote:

Hi all- will be in Barcelona in September. Have read that a tour to Montserrat Mountain and Monastery would be great. Any ideas on when the best time of day for photos would be ie AM or PM tours or any travel tips? Want to avoid a lot of shadows of the countryside- thanks!

Your post reminded me of a trip my three sisters and I took about 2 years ago. One likes to take pictures. She tried to dictate when we should go here and there based on light conditions and time of day.. She failed to realize we were on vacation. No children or husbands. At the end of the day we met her for dinner and drinks.

Lagoonguy Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL

pmorin wrote:

Best time of day for photos is before 9am and afte... (show quote)

Thank you for posting your photo of Montserrat. My wife and I have been to Spain numerous times but only to Montserrat once on a half day bus tour while on a cruise. It was a beautiful scene but I have never seen so many tourists & worshipers in one place. It was so crowded it took all the enjoyment out of visiting this lovely and special place. We felt like intruders with so many people clamoring to get photos while many others were there for worship. I immediately purchased a silent mirrorless camera after our visit. Thanks to you I now understand how to visit it properly.

brownstuff

mikedent wrote:

Hi all- will be in Barcelona in September. Have read that a tour to Montserrat Mountain and Monastery would be great. Any ideas on when the best time of day for photos would be ie AM or PM tours or any travel tips? Want to avoid a lot of shadows of the countryside- thanks!

Monserrat is sheltered from the east by a high ridge which delays the morning sun. We took a Viator tour in early April and sun did not get full until a little after 10:30 AM. That said, the streams of light when they came were fun. If you are going in early September, the light should be full earlier. Be aware that the mountain also gathers mists, fog, and low floating clouds.

It is a great tour. My wife and I really enjoyed it. Mike Brown

mikedent Loc: Florida

Thanks all! I think the PM tour includes using the funicular to reach higher up the mountain, while the AM tour does not offer this, don't know why. I've used Viator before, they are less expensive than the same tour offered by the church tour organizers...looking forward to it!

jmunny Loc: Buena Park, CA

Early morning works best IMHO.

mikedent Loc: Florida

Great photo of the church!

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

around 2pm if you have the time being your tat a boat trip to moraco its more interesting and its not expensive bought a $6000.00 silk rug for $1200.00 at a rug bazar its a lot fun to barter over there never pay full price.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

brownstuff wrote:

Monserrat is sheltered from the east by a high ridge which delays the morning sun. We took a Viator tour in early April and sun did not get full until a little after 10:30 AM. That said, the streams of light when they came were fun. If you are going in early September, the light should be full earlier. Be aware that the mountain also gathers mists, fog, and low floating clouds.

It is a great tour. My wife and I really enjoyed it. Mike Brown

Good info. We're going to be in Barcelona the first few days of April and a tour to Montserrat is on our list; any other tips on our visit there?