Decibellas on Tour: Barcelona & Costa Brava - day 3

Day three dawned bright and promising, with sunshine and temperatures climbing into the 20s — a perfect day for a trip into the dramatic peaks of Montserrat.

The journey up was nothing short of spectacular… depending on your tolerance for hairpin bends and sheer drops. Some admired the views; others focused very intently on not looking out of the window.

Our destination: the breathtaking Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, where we had the extraordinary privilege of singing at the end of Mass in the Basilica. Arriving late morning, we were immediately struck by the volume of visitors — it quickly became clear that this was not going to be an intimate performance!

With no changing facilities available, we arrived fully concert-ready. The sight of 36 women in flowing blue dresses processing through a religious site caused a certain amount of curiosity… and, in some cases, mild confusion. More than one tourist seemed convinced they had stumbled upon an order of particularly musical (and unusually well-dressed) nuns. For the record: the collective noun is, delightfully, a superfluity.

We were asked to enter the Basilica in silence, where seats had been reserved right at the front. It wasn’t until we approached the Great Altar that the scale of the occasion truly hit us — the Basilica was absolutely packed, with people standing at the back.

No accompaniment allowed; just a tuning fork and steady nerves. In our strictly observed 10-minute slot, we performed three pieces: Steal Away, Ubi Caritas and Ave Maria. Singing unaccompanied in such an opulent, awe-inspiring space was something truly special.

And then — applause. In a sacred setting where we hadn’t expected it, the reaction from the congregation was both surprising and deeply moving.

As if that weren’t enough, while waiting to hear the renowned Escolania de Montserrat, Jo received a photograph of us mid-performance, taken from above by a gentleman from Nantwich who had earlier met one of the group. A small world, even on a mountainside.

Leaving the Basilica turned into something of a meet-and-greet: hugs from delighted tourists, photo requests, and even an enthusiastic South Korean choir keen to capture the moment. Fame, it seems, travels fast.

After a quick lunch in the sunshine — with those now-familiar jaw-dropping views — we swapped sacred for sparkling and headed to the Freixenet Winery.

The tour began with a vital lesson: how to pronounce “Freixenet” correctly (opinions may still vary). A fascinating dive into its history followed… though, if we’re honest, most were quietly waiting for the main event: a glass (or two) of crisp cava in the sunshine. No judgement here.

Photos were taken, laughter flowed, and on the coach ride back, a few well-earned power naps made an appearance.

The evening brought dinner and ambitious talk of hitting the hotel disco. In reality, most opted for a more refined approach: an early night. A few die-hards stayed up to watch Liverpool FC, while our resident artist Karen somehow still had the energy to paint a beautiful watercolour of the monastery cloisters.

Culture, music, mountains, and cava — a day very well spent.