Convent of La Serra

Construction
It is from the 13th century with alterations in the 14th century and later on.

Architectural features
It consists in the monastery, the sanctuary the priest’s former house and the keeper house as well as a big kitchen garden. The church has only one nave, with five diaphragm arches and five lateral chapels. The presbytery, the Renaissance chapel of the Saint Sepulchre, the choir and the small room for the image are from later on. In the interior we point out the big Italian Gothic image made of alabaster of the Virgin (Mare de Déu de la Serra), the Green Cross (Creu Verda) and the six medieval sepulchres. In the presbytery we can see a wall painting which is a work of the local painter Ismael Balanyà.

History
According to tradition, the Greek princess Irene Laskarina was carrying an image of the Virgin from Salou to Zaragoza. In Montblanc the oxen that were pulling the carriage stopped and did not want to follow their way. This made them think that the Virgin wanted to stay in that place. The princess asked the king Jaume II for permission to build a convent in that hill. The construction began in 1296. It became the second most visited convent in Catalonia and had great privileges from the popes and kings. It has suffered the effects of wars and lootings, but the monastic activity has been preserved until 2008. On September the 9th 1906 the image was canonically crowned and every 25 years there are extraordinary festivities to celebrate it.

Visit
Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Price
Free.

Check the mass times here.