Monestir de Lluc

The present monastery, the Monestir de Lluc, a huge austere complex, dates mostly from the 17th to 18th centuries. There's also a museum and modest gardens and, if you're lucky, you might hear the Els Escolanets (also known as Els Blauets, the Little Blues, because of the soutane they wear), the monastery’s boarding school boys choir. This institution dates to the early 16th century.

Off the central courtyard is the entrance to the rather gloomy, late-Renaissance Basílica de la Mare de Déu (built in 1622–91 and bearing mostly baroque decoration), which contains a fine retablo (altarpiece) done by Jaume Blanquer in 1629, and the statuette of the Virgin Mary.

Outside, the Jardí Botànic (botanic garden) is worth a stroll, as is the climb up to the Pujol dels Misteris, a hill topped by a crucifix whose base is enveloped in barbed wire. Forget the cross and enjoy the lovely valley views behind it.