The Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Lluc (Santuari de Lluc) in the municipality of Escorcas, is the largest monastery on the island of Mallorca. The statue of a brown Virgin Mary, the Virgen de Lluc, is exhibited in the monastery’s chapel. This virgin is the patron saint of Mallorca and is venerated by hordes of pilgrims every year.

The monastery is situated at an altitude of 550 m in the middle of the Tramuntana mountain range. A variety of walks and hikes can be undertaken in the vicinity of the sanctuary, from short afternoon scrambles to fairly serious mountain treks. Accommodation is on offer in the monastery’s old monks’ cells, refurbished recently to a more than acceptable standard. Should you like to spend a night there, or two, you might want to ring first for reservations on 971.871.525.

The photo was taken in Lluc, near Escorca, Mallorca, Spain. The date: February 9th, 2008. The time was 13:52:47.