Meet your guide in central Barcelona, relax on board a comfortable minivan and take in views of the Catalan countryside on your way to Montserrat, the craggy mountain that rises above the region. Stop in a charming village, famous for cattle raising and cheese making, and visit a beautifully restored medieval farmhouse to sample local cheese and wine. As you savor your tasting, admire views of your backdrop – the north face of Montserrat.
Continue to Santa Cecília, a former Benedictine monastery that is today a mountain shelter and a great example of early Catalan Romanesque architecture. Enjoy a short stop here to learn interesting facts about the history of the region, as how the monks influenced the farming and the gastronomic traditions. As you listen to your guide, sample locally grown treats like almonds, peaches, honey or home-cured meats, depending on the season.
Next, relax on the drive around Montserrat and discover the south face of the mountain, which has a different climate and landscape from the north side, making it ideal for olive trees and vines. Get closer to nature as you leave your minivan and follow your guide through a path between fields of olive trees.
Arrive at a 16th-century farmhouse, originally the property of the Monastery of Montserrat. Visit the farmhouse's old olive mill and the medieval water tanks, and learn about olive oil pressing and the different types of olive oil. Sample some of these, then enjoy a traditional lunch of products grown at the farm (upgrade your experience by traveling on a Sunday, where the menu features typical local Catalan dishes)
After lunch, head to the Penedés, a vibrant wine region known for its production of cava (Catalan sparkling wine). Stop at a local winery, where you will learn how cava is made on a guided tour of the winery's underground cellars and barreling room, and finish with a tasting of four different types of cava and wine.
Then sit comfortably in your minivan and admire views of the landscape on your way back to Barcelona.