Montserrat and the Sardana Dance

We took a day trip to Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery in the mountains to the northeast of Montserrat. It is nestled into a dramatic setting of serrated mountains, hence the name of Montserrat. Although it was foggy in the morning, it cleared off and was a beautiful day. Montserrat has an 800 year old black Madonna in the basilica which was found in a nearby cave in the twentieth century.

On Sunday we wandered through the oldest part of Barcelona, the part that was once the center of the Roman settlement founded here around 50 B.C. Barcino, as it was called, was a type of retirement location for Roman soldiers.

In front of the cathedral on Sunday noon we were privileged to see the Sardana dance being performed. It is a Catalonian circle dance that is significant to the people here in the northeast part of Spain known as Catalonia. It appears to be a little un-dramatic when first seen, particularly when compared to other dances in Spain such as flamenco. But it has some interesting connotations to the Catalonians who see themselves as different from the rest of Spain and who want political separation, too. There are aspects of community that are signified by the dance, such as the way they always place their belongings (coats, purses, etc.) in the center of the circle. So, despite its mundane appearance it was good to be able to catch the Sardana by the cathedral.

A small sardana dance took place beside the main dance circle. This one included a Catalonian flag.