Santa Cova de Montserrat
Santa Cova translates to “holy cave” in Catalan.
Santa Cova de Montserrat is the cave at Montserrat where the image of the Virgin was miraculously discovered in the year 880. The site holds enormous significance for the people of Catalonia.
Today you can walk the Cami de la Santa Cova down to the cave (and the Santa Cova Chapel) and back, or take the Santa Cova funicular one or both ways.
The Santa Cova walk is one of the most popular hikes at Montserrat!
Planning a trip to the historic mountaintop abbey? Bookmark our Montserrat Monastery website for the complete rundown on visiting Montserrat!
The Legend of Santa Cova de Montserrat
When the Moors invaded Spain in the 8th century, locals took the image of Our Lady of Montserrat and hid it in a cave on the mountainside, to protect it from the invaders.
Over time, as the Moslems continued their rule, the location of the image was forgotten.
Then, in the year 880, some young shepherds saw a light shining part way up the mountainside. They went to investigate, and as they got closer, they heard some singing as well, coming from a cave.
They entered the cave and discovered the image of the Virgin.
They told their parents, who returned to the hillside with the children and experienced the same miraculous phenomenon.
The nearest bishop, the Bishop of Manresa, was informed and he wanted to move the image to the city, where the Virgin could be properly worshipped.
But the statue got progressively heavier as people tried to carry it down the mountain, so it was decided that the Virgin would be worshipped on the mountain.
It was the discovery of the image of the Virgin at Santa Cova that led to the eventual founding of the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey and made it a significant destination for pilgrims.
The Santa Cova Chapel
The Chapel of the Santa Cova was built much later, in the late 17th / early 18th centuries. It is located just beneath the cave, and has a spectacularly precipitous setting along the mountain face.
A circular opening in the dome allows for light.
The grotto, set in the chapel, is shaped like a Latin cross. Here you will find a reproduction of the image of Our Lady of Montserrat that is in the Basilica de Montserrat.
There is a small but lovely cloister at the site as well.
Over the years, the chapel has been damaged or destroyed several times by war and natural disasters. The current restoration dates back to 1997.
How to Get to Santa Cova de Montserrat
You can either walk to Santa Cova de Montserrat and back, or take the Santa Cova Funicular one or both ways. Many visitors walk down to the cave and chapel and return via the funicular to avoid the uphill walk back.
The Santa Cova Funicular departs from the upper station by the Montserrat Monastery and takes you part way down the mountain, but not all the way to the Holy Cave.
From the lower station of the Santa Cova funicular, it is about a 20-minute walk to the cave.
The walking path to the chapel is called the Cami de la Santa Cova.
If you choose to walk all the way, note that the out and back distance is about 3 kilometers (about 1.9 miles). The path down is quite steep so this trail is classed as moderate to challenging. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the walk there and back.
While the walk back is not easy, the Cami de la Santa Cova offers beautiful views into the valley.
The pathway that leads to the chapel is lined with a series of statues called the Rosari Monumental. You’ll find works by the likes of Antoni Gaudi and Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
Santa Cova de Montserrat Opening Hours
The grotto and the chapel are always open, but if you plan to walk both ways, visit when it is still light outside so you can find the cave.
If you plan to use the funicular, be mindful of its hours of operation so you do not miss the last one back to the upper station, which may be at 4.30 p.m. or 5.30 p.m. depending on the season. Check the schedule for the day of your visit before you head down.
Santa Cova de Montserrat Entrance Fee
There is no fee to visit Santa Cova de Montserrat, either the grotto or the chapel.
However, the funicular does have a fee, so you’ll have to buy a ticket before you ride it to or from the Santa Cova. You can buy tickets on the date of your visit.
If you opt for the ToT Montserrat Ticket or the Trans Montserrat Ticket, unlimited rides on the Santa Cova funciular are part of the ticket. These combination tickets cover transport to and from Montserrat, and the ToT Ticket covers the major fee attractions at Montserrat as well.