Girona

Girona is a city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, crossed by the rivers Ter, Güell, Galligants and Oñar, with a subtropical climate, with mild winters and hot summers.
Its history dates back to the settlements of the Iberian peoples. Later, in the first centuries before Christ, it was conquered by the Romans who founded Gerunda, which prospered thanks to the proximity of the port, and as a diocese of the Catholic Church. Later there were the Visigoths and then again, towards the eighth century after Christ the Muslims.

The domination of the Arabs did not last long. The inhabitants of Girona at first did not resist their presence, but then decided to hand over the city to Charlemagne, in exchange to keep their laws.
A new wall was built and the surface of the city expanded, at the same time as the Jewish community prospered. Today the Jewish quarter is one of the main tourist attractions of the city.

In the following centuries, Girona continued to grow despite the constant attacks that it suffered as a result of the European wars. Towards the end of the 19th century a stone bridge was built, one of the characteristic architectural elements of the city and part of the walls were demolished.

WHAT TO SEE IN GIRONA

HISTORICAL HERITAGE

  • The Cathedral of Santa Maria: built between the eleventh and eighteenth centuries in different architectural styles.
  • The historical centre: in it there is the most important artistic patrimony of the city, surrounded by a part of wall that you can traversed and enjoy a splendid sight. In addition to the civic buildings of great historical importance, there are religious buildings such as the monastery of San Pedro de Galligans, the chapel of Sant Nicolau and the Basilica of San Félix with particular architectural features worthy of interest.
  • The houses of the Oñar: colourful houses located on the river Oñar, among which there is the Casa Masó, the house of the famous architect Masó from Girona, today is the headquarters of the Foundation Rafael Masó.
  • La Judería: the Jewish quarter dating back to the Middle Ages, where in addition to the characteristic streets there is the Centro Bonastruc Ça Porta, a possible ancient synagogue now home to a study centre and Museum of Jewish history.
  • The Arab Baths: a Christian building located on one side of the cathedral.
  • La Rambla de la Libertad: access point to the historic centre, built at the end of the 19th century.
  • La Plaza de la Independencia: one of the busiest squares in the city, surrounded by neoclassical buildings with arcades that welcome bars and restaurants where you can stop for a tapas-based aperitif, in small tables set up outside.
  • The bridges on the river Oñar: built for the necessity of uniting the two parts of the city divided by the river Oñar, and of medieval age are preserved: the Stone Bridge, the Iron Bridge and the Gómez Bridge.
  • Ancient hospital of Santa Caterina: built during the second half of the seventeenth century, it was then renovated in 2004, keeping intact the pharmacy, with a large collection of ceramic jars with Latin writing. In a new building annexed to the historic one there is the Santa Caterina Exhibition Space, which hosts exhibitions that have to do with the Generalitat de Cataluña.

PARKS AND GARDENS

  • Parc de la Devesa
  • Parc del Migdia
  • Parc Central
  • Parc de Vista Alegre
  • Jardins del Alemanys
  • Parc de la Comtessa Ermessenda
  • Parcs de les Ribes del Ter
  • La Font del Ferro

MUSEUMS

  • History Museum of Girona: located in the historic centre, in the ancient convent of the Capuchins of the eighteenth century, includes a collection of archaeological funds, historical objects and illustrations of the era. Also you can visit the cloister and the cemetery of the ancient convent. Inside there is also the Municipal Historical Archives.
  • Museum of Archeology: in the ancient church and convent of San Pedro de Galligans there are the archaeological collections of the museum, from prehistory to the Middle Ages.
  • Museum of Art: located in the ancient episcopal palace next to the cathedral, it contains a collection of all the artistic periods, mainly of the medieval period.
  • Capitular Museum-Treasury of the Cathedral: dedicated to relics, liturgical objects and sacred art.
  • Cinema Museum: born recently from a private collection of a Catalan film director, it shows objects and instruments related to the world of cinema.
  • Museum of Jewish History: contains objects of Jewish culture, and exhibits the history of the community lived in the city from the eleventh to the fifteenth century.
  • Casa Masó: a museum house dedicated to the work of Rafael Masó, a famous Catalan architect.

THEATRES

  • Teatre Municipal de Girona
  • Sala La Planeta
  • La Troca
  • El Canal

GASTRONOMY

The gastronomy of Girona offers a wide variety and quality of products ranging from fish, to vegetables, to fruit and meat. Also with regard to wines it has a wide choice, thanks to the production of wines with designation of origin.
It is also typical in some recipes, to mix meat and fish, or with a combination of sweet and sour ingredients.
Among the typical dishes there are:

  • Escudella: a winter dish based on broth, chickpeas, vegetables and mixed meat.
  • L’Escala anchovies
  • Trinxat of Savoy cabbage and potatoes: a kind of mashed potato with the addition of bacon and other ingredients
  • Suquet de peix: a dish based on monkfish, scampi and other ingredients
  • Sweet butifarra with apples: baked sweet sausage
  • Xuixo: a kind of fried croissant

EVENTS, PARTIES AND POPULAR TRADITIONS

  • Fairs and festivals of San Narciso: people celebrated them in the week of October 29, the day of St. Narcissus, patron saint of the city. Mass is held dedicated to the saint in the church of San Félix of Girona, in which there are the remains of Saint Narcissus, and there are also shows such as fireworks, musical concerts and the attractions of the fairs.
  • Girona, Time of Flowers: it is a festival born as an exhibition of flowers in the church of Santo Domingo of Girona, which over the years has become a real party in which the city is filled with flowers, monuments and spaces public; the third week of May is celebrated.
  • Holy Week: religious processions take place in the days preceding Easter
  • Festival Temporada Alta: a theatrical festival that takes place mainly between the months of October and December, in the cities of Girona and Salt.
  • FITAG: International Festival of Amateur Theatre of Girona which takes place the last week of August in which you can attend performances of theatre companies from any part of the world.
  • Film festival: takes place between September and October.
  • Nits de Clàssica: classical music festival that takes place during the summer.

OTHER CITIES OF CATALONIA TO VISIT:

  • Barcelona: It is the place where Roman emperors left traces of their presence, where the largest county of medieval Catalan towns flourished and where brilliant architects created innovative works of art that never cease to amaze. Read more about Barcelona
  • Tarragona: is located along the Costa Dorada, it has wonderful beaches and an important historical heritage from the Roman age. Read more about Tarragona
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