3. Manresa (Catalan pronunciation: [mənˈrɛzə] ) is the capital of the Comarca of Bages , located in the geographic centre of Catalonia , Spain , and crossed by the river Cardener . It is an industrial area with textile , metallurgical , and glass industries. The houses of Manresa are arranged around the basilica of Santa María de la Seo. [1] Saint Ignatius of Loyola stopped to pray in the town on his way back from Montserrat in 1522. He also read in solitude in the town for a year, which contributed to the formulation of his Spiritual Exercises . As such, the town is a place of pilgrimage for Catholics . Click