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Girona
Girona Old
Quarter (Barri Vell).
Surely, one of the best reasons
for visiting Girona and better done on foot. It's seperated
from the more modern part of Girona (Eixample) by the river
Onyar. There's bundles to see here, marvel at the old
buildings and soak in the generations of history. Dine in
one of many eateries dotted around its numerous cobbled
streets and narrow, ghostly alleyways which seem to
disappear up into nowhere. It also has many small, fine
shops on the Rambla and along nearby C/ Calderers. Most of
Girona's museums are also found here.
Houses along
the River Onyar (Cases de l'Onyar).
One of
the best known views of Girona, the tall, narrow houses
that back onto the river were painted in different colours
back in 1983 and many date back from medieval times.
Jewish
Quarter (El Call).
The
Jews lived in the Call (area) of Girona for over 600 years
before they were forced out by the Spanish monarchy in the
15th C. It's now one of the best preserved Jewish ghetto's
in Europe. The narrow alleys give you a real sense of time
standing still.
Centre Bonastruca Porta (Museum of History of the Jews) is
a building rich with the history of Jews in Girona and has
a collection of Hebrew tombstones from the Jewish cemetery
in Girona (Bou d'Or). It also hosts different exhibitions
throughout the year, and guided tours in English (June to
September) which you can even book online. check their
website below for more details.
http://www.ajuntament.gi/call/eng/index.php
Some of Girona's
old town streets.
The Rambla.
Walk
down C/ Nou and cross the Pont de Pedra (The stone bridge)
and turn left into a wide tree-lined, pedestrianised avenue
known as the Rambla de la Llibertat, a popular place to
take a quiet stroll or have a drink/snack. Also just here
you'll find the main Girona Tourist office and next to it
are some public loos (behind the newspaper kiosk). The
Rambla has a good mix of shops (mostly clothing and
footwear), bars and many cafes with outdoor seating. It's
also popular in the evenings when the locals go for a
stroll and meet each other. Every Saturday there's a flower
market here until about 2pm, and stalls along one side of
the Stone Bridge (Pont de Pedra) selling locally made
crafts, till late.
Tourist Office
Arab Baths
(Banys Arabs). see our Girona museum page for
a description.
Girona
Cathedral (La Catedral).
Looming over Girona
is its impressive and most important building that has
existed since the 11th C. and seen many different
architectural styles added to it. The baroque Cathedral,
its facade and stairway of 90 steps and 3 landings. Inside,
its huge nave is second in length only to the Vatican's St
Peters, and you'll also find the museum and cloisters here.
Also on display is the Tapestry of Creation (11th C), the
Beatus a 10th C. manuscript and a rich collection of
medieval gold and silver work. Its bell tower is known as
the Charlemagne Tower (11th C.)
If
climbing up the steps proves too much, there's a couple of
conveniently placed cafes at the base of the steps.
n.b Early in 2007 some idiot in a four-wheel-drive vehicle
tried to drive up the Cathedral steps.
Open
10am-7pm November to March, April to October 10am-8pm
closed on 1st and 6th January. Price 5€ with
audioguide, retired and students 3€, groups (min.10)
with guide 2€.
Monastery of
Sant Pere de Galligants.
A
former Benedictine abbey founded in the 11th and 12th
Century now the home of the Archeological Museum containing
an important collection of prehistoric Iberian, Greek and
Roman remains.
Pujada de
Sant Domenec.
Sant Domenec
This
former Convent dates from the 14th and 16th C and is now
the Girona University Faculty of Arts.
Church of
Sant Nicolau.
Dating
from the 12th C. with an octagonal dome and Paleo-Christian
remains displayed below.
St Feliu Church. Near to the Cathedral this
church dates from the 14th -17th C. and houses the relics
of St. Felix and St. Narcis the patron saint of Girona.
During 2007 it was covered in scaffolding due to
restoration work which is now complete.
St. Feliu church with
Girona cathedral in the background.
Girona
Bridges.
Many
bridges span the river Onyar from the new part of Girona
(Eixample) to the old town (Barri Vell). The Pont de Ferro
(pont is bridge in Catalan) was built by the French firm
Eifel, who built the Eifel Tower in Paris. Cross the Pont
d'en Gomez or Pont de Sant Agusti to reach Placa
Independencia.
Pont de Ferro
Pont de Pedra (Stone
bridge)
This iron bridge (Pont de
Sant Feliu) takes you over to St. Feliu church.
The Wall walk
(Passeig Muralla).
Much
of Girona's city walls were demolished in the 19th C to
make way for more expansion but this section was rebuilt.
Make sure you start at the right end, which is near the
Church of St Feliu (Ex-Col-legiata de St Feliu). You can
stop along the way at numerous vantage points, some which
let you climb higher up, and there are also exit points if
you want to descend without reaching the end. When we did
this walk for the first time we started at the wrong end
and found ourselves steadily climbing upwards, and on a hot
day to boot, with two young kids. Pop into the tourist
office and pick up a free Girona map. The walk has some
spectacular views of Girona in all directions and beyond to
the distant mountains, make sure you have your camera.
Free, open 8 am-10pm.
