Where is Girona Spain located? Girona, Spain. List of main museums in Girona
Like many other Spanish cities, Girona owes its birth to the Romans. In 75 AD, legionnaires of the Great Empire founded a military fortress, which was later called Gerunda.
At first it seems that the Catalan city of Girona is very ordinary, but later the true face of the city turns out to be completely different. It is curtained with colorful walls of houses that stretch along the Onyar River. It is thanks to these colorful facades that you can penetrate inside Girona and understand everything connected with its history.
Jews made Girona a prosperous city. It was thanks to them that this city became famous far beyond the Iberian Peninsula.
Girona Cathedral- This is the result of a mixture of styles that date back to the 11th - 18th centuries. From the original Romanesque building, which was built in 1038, only the cloister and some part of the tower have survived. All other elements of the cathedral belong to the church project dating back to the 15th century.
Unusual excursions from residents:
The main attractions of Girona on the map
If you are planning to visit Cathedral Museum, then the famous Tapestry of the Universe XII century and one of the richest collections of medieval items made of silver and gold.
How to get to Girona?
The easiest way to get from Barcelona is by train (renfe.com) or bus from Barcelona (nord) station (www.alsa.es)
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Girona is often called the immortal city because its fortress withstood 25 major sieges and attacks. Thanks to these fortress walls, she became famous. The massive wall of the military fortification has survived to this day, and the historical city center can easily be explored on foot in just one day. The antiquity and atmosphere of the chivalrous Middle Ages is balanced in Girona by the energy of youth - today it is a university city, where about 15 thousand students study, and there are many young people here all year round.
A special attraction is the Jewish Quarter of Girona, one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. Once a year, during the Temps de Flors flower exhibition, its streets turn into one large greenhouse, and locals and tourists from all over the area come here. North of Girona, in the town of Figueres, there is one of the most visited museums in Spain - the Salvador Dali Theater Museum.
The most popular souvenir from Girona is the flies of San Narcissa. According to legend, flies that flew out of the tomb of St. Narcissus bit the enemies of the city and saved the local residents.
How to get to Girona
Recently, Moscow and Girona have been connected by a direct flight from Pobeda from Vnukovo. On other days you can fly with transfers, but they are quite long - it is better to get there through Barcelona. You can fly to the capital of Catalonia at any convenient time, and from there you can quickly get to Girona by train or bus.
Read more about how to get to Girona in this article.
Search flights to Girona
Girona Hotels
In the vicinity of Plaza Catalunya and Rambla there are hotels aimed at those who come to the city on business - with conference rooms and other services. And tourists are welcome in hotels near the main attractions and in the historical center.
The old town of Girona is a colorful place, with many hotels, but also with its own characteristics. The streets are narrow, there are many climbs, you will have to walk here mainly on foot, since a car will not go everywhere. For the same reason, most hotels in the center do not have parking, and street parking is quite expensive - from 20 EUR per day. To be able to get there by taxi, you should choose hotels closer to the embankment - there are wider roads and there is access.
In the center there are many hotels located in ancient buildings, in some places the stonework and wooden beams have been preserved. Accommodation prices start from 50 EUR per day for a small double room in a 2-3* hotel. Apartments can be rented for 100 EUR, and a room in a 4* hotel will cost from 120 EUR per day. Prices on the page are as of August 2018.
For those passing through Girona, it will be convenient to stay near the train station. There are many cafes, shops, and fewer problems with parking (at least there is some). There are a lot of comfortable modern hotels here, where you can stay for about 60-70 EUR per day for two.
Shopping in Girona
- Shopping districts
Most shops in Girona are concentrated along La Rambla de la Llibertat and around Plaza de la Independencia in the city center. Another popular place for shopping is Carrer de Joan Maragall, which is located near the train station parallel to Liberty Boulevard. On these streets you can find mono-brand boutiques Zara, Massimo Dutti (there are three of them in the city), souvenir shops, jewelry stores, supermarkets and even Russian grocery stores.
- Shopping centers
Girona has two large shopping centers. The most popular of them is Espai Girones, it is located on the outskirts of the city, open every day except Sunday, and is famous for its low prices. The El Corte Ingles shopping center is located in the city center, 700 m from the train station, and is open every day except Sunday. Prices here are higher than in Espai Girones, but there are often promotions and off-season sales.
- Markets
Maps of Girona
Cuisine and restaurants
In Girona, as in many other Spanish cities, food is treated with great respect, so bad food or service is very rare here, although it does occur.
As in any Catalan city, bars are closed from lunch until 16-17 evenings. The only exceptions are the tourist cafes on Rambla de la Lliberitat.
In the Old Town of Girona, cafes, restaurants, pastry shops and bars are literally at every turn. Most of them feature traditional Catalan cuisine. Pay attention to the establishments Bronsoms, Ca L'Ivan and Ca la Pilar - they will offer you traditional Spanish snacks at very affordable prices. Locals and tourists love Zanpanzar Tavern, it's good for a quick bite. This is a traditional Spanish tapas bar with a huge selection of tapas and pintxos (small sandwiches with everything). The cost of a sandwich is 1.8 EUR, each contains a small toothpick, which the waiters use to count who ate how much. For two people, 10-12 pintxos are usually enough. A jug of homemade wine here costs 5-7 EUR.
Girona's restaurants serve both Catalan and Basque cuisine, and the traditional local menu is a mix of both. Among the Catalan establishments, Calderers (on Independence Square) and El Capritxo (on Sant Feliu Square) are interesting, and the most popular Basque restaurant is Txalaka.
For signature cuisine, you should go to Divinum in the very center of the Old Town. The menu includes more than 50 dishes - the author's interpretation of traditional Spanish dishes and the best wine list in the city. The restaurant El Celler de can Roca by the Roca brothers is considered the best not only in Girona, but also in Catalonia, and according to some sources, one of the best in all of Spain. It has three Michelin stars and ranks first in the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world according to the British Restaurant Magazine. The restaurant is located outside the city, 2 km west of Girona, and requires reservations several months in advance.
El Celler de Can Roca serves olives in caramel, cherry soup with tuna, flounder in oranges, desserts with the scents of famous perfumes and other unusual dishes.
Another, not so luxurious, but no less interesting project of the Roca brothers is the Rocambolesc confectionery. The menu includes several dozen types of ice cream, signature cookies, cakes and other desserts, prepared only from natural products and according to our own recipes.
“1900” is another popular confectionery, this time a chain one, which serves excellent macaroons.
Guides in Girona
Entertainment and attractions in Girona
The historic center of Girona is located in the eastern part of the city. The landmark is the Onyar River, which divides Girona into modern quarters and the medieval Old Town. It also offers one of the most picturesque views of Girona. The colorful houses decorating the embankment are a heritage of the 17th century and the calling card of the city; they were rebuilt several times, but still retained their original appearance.
You can admire the bright and colorful houses on the banks of Onyar from any bridge across the river, but a particularly beautiful view opens from two bridges: Pont de Pedra and Pont de Sant Agustí.
Another local attraction is connected to the river - Plaza Catalunya, located near Pont de Pedra (Stone Bridge). This square is interesting for its unusual shape - it is a very wide bridge connecting the two banks. It is from here that most excursions around the old part of Girona start. And near the Stone Bridge, a flea mini-market regularly opens on weekends, where you can find homemade jewelry and simply interesting souvenirs.
5 things to do in Girona:
- Find something old at the flea market near the Stone Bridge.
- Count an even number of steps on the stairs of the Cathedral.
- Buy a couple of dozen flies for souvenirs.
- Admire the luxurious tapestry “The Creation of the World” in the Cathedral Museum.
- See the Old City from the fortress walls.
Churches and cathedrals
The main Girona masterpiece is the Cathedral, the construction of which began in the 14th century on the site of an ancient tomb and lasted several centuries. Its architecture mixed many styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and others. This variety of styles and the giant staircase are the main distinguishing features of the cathedral. It is believed that the one who counts an even number of steps while climbing the stairs is a righteous person, and an odd number is a sinner.
Another valuable example of religious architecture is the Church of Sant Feliu (Church of St. Philip), built in the Gothic style, although this was no longer very fashionable in the 14th century. The place for construction was not chosen by chance - it was here, under the temple building, that the patrons of the city, Saint Philip and Saint Narcissus, were buried.
The legend of Narcissus is one of the most important in the urban mythology of Girona. According to legend, flies that flew out of the saint’s grave bit the enemies and saved the population from the invaders. Until today, the flies of San Narcissus are the most popular local souvenir.
Sant Feliu Square, where the church of the same name is located, is famous for its sculpture in the form of a lion climbing a column. The stone statue is a symbol of the city; according to signs, if you kiss it, you can return to Girona again. The lion is located at such a height that a person of average height can easily reach it.
Jewish Quarter and Arab Baths
Girona, like many other Spanish cities, preserves traces of centuries-old mixing of cultures. Here this is especially noticeable thanks to the Jewish Quarter and the Arab baths.
Until the 15th century, Girona was home to the largest Jewish community in Catalonia. After the adoption of Catholicism by the Spanish monarchs, everyone who did not want to change their faith was expelled, but in this Girona quarter, not only the special atmosphere of the ancient settlement, but also the architecture with ancient buildings and narrow streets was miraculously preserved.
Once a year, the Temps de flors flower exhibition takes place in the Jewish Quarter. Designers lay out floral paintings on pavements, on the walls of houses and create three-dimensional floral figures. Each composition has its own meaning, for example, flower pots symbolize hearts, and ropes hanging from different sides speak of the eternal connection of the descendants of the Jews who lived here with Girona.
Another significant attraction of Girona is the fortress walls built during the times of the ancient Romans. The walls were erected to defend the city from invaders; they go around the entire historical center of Girona and end at Plaza Catalunya. They offer a very beautiful view of the city, and next to them is one of the first Gothic monasteries of Catalonia - Sant Domènech. Today, students live inside the monastery - the University of Girona chose the former monks' cells as a dormitory.
Museums of Girona
There are few museums in the city, but the Museum of Fine Arts and the Cinema Museum are definitely worth a look. The city also has an Archaeological Museum, a Museum of the History of the City with mummies of Capuchin friars, and a Museum of the History of the Jews of Girona. It is worth finding the Cathedral Museum with the tapestry “The Creation of the World”.
History of Girona
Weather in Girona
Girona has a mild temperate climate, so you can come here at any time of the year. The high season begins in May. Summer here is not as hot as in most of Spain, but it is also dry and sunny: the average temperature is a comfortable +25...+26 °C, on some days in July and August it can be hot up to +29...+30 °C. At the end of October, summer ends and it begins to get colder rapidly; already in November it is about +10 °C and rainy.
Spring is the most comfortable time for walking, the air temperature is about +18 °C, everything is in bloom, and there is no rain anymore. Winter in Girona is cool, from late November to mid-February it gets cold down to -5 °C at night, but during the day it rarely gets colder than +10 °C. Rain is rare here in winter, there are few tourists, prices fall, so the low season also has its own charm.
The city of Girona currently has the only public mode of transport: the bus (previously there were trams). The Transport Consortium (CTM) operates TEISA (Transports Elèctrics Interurbans) and TMX (Transports Municipals de Girona) buses, which operate on 11 routes extending beyond the municipality of Girona, covering the neighboring Salt, Sarria de Ter, Quart, Fornells de la Selva and Vilablareiks, which are part of the suburban area. The fare is €1.40. Information about travel tickets can be obtained on the website
Port
The municipality of Girona has no access to the sea, so there is no port on the territory of the municipality. But Girona has long used the port of Sant Feliu de Guixols, 40 km from the city. During the Middle Ages, Girona achieved legal recognition of its rights to the port, gaining control over all taxes and the right to use a small Mediterranean port. Now Girona has no rights to the port of Sant Feliu de Guixols, which has been replaced by the port of Palamos, the main port infrastructure in the province of Girona, also located 40 km from the capital.
Airport
The airport, serving both the city itself and the entire province - Girona-Costa Brava - is located in Vilobi d'Oniyar, 12 km from the city. Since the airport's founding in 1969, all infrastructure has been made for local flights and charters only. It was then upgraded to tier one in 2003 for new airlines offering low-cost flights. Thanks to this, Girona-Costa Brava Airport has ceased to be just a provincial airport, becoming a state-level airport. It is the main hub in Southern Europe for one of the largest airlines, Ryanair. Girona Airport is often used as an alternative to Barcelona Airport due to its good connections between the cities (you can get there by direct bus or train).
Trains
Girona is home to the ADIF (formerly RENFE) railway station, which connects the national railway network with a rail width of 1668 mm.
There are three types of trains arriving in the city:
- Regional trains (Regional/Catalunya Express): connect the city with Portbou, Figueres, Barcelona and other municipalities of the Province of Girona and the neighboring province of Barcelona.
- Long-distance trains (Talgo/Estrella): connect Girona with the main cities of the Mediterranean and Madrid.
- International trains: connect Girona with Perpignan, Narbonne, Montpelier, Limoges, Orleans, Paris, Geneva, Zurich, Turin and Milan.
Train tracks cross Girona from north to south. With the launch of High Speed Trains in the city, a project arose to dismantle these tracks and the existing transport station, building a new station for passengers in the same place where it is now.
Highway
Many routes cross the territory of the municipality of Girona, passing through the Costa Brava and the interior to the French border. Among the national routes, Girona can be reached via the toll AP-7 (Mediterranean Autostrada), which has a large capacity and connects coastal cities with the French border, and along the A-2 (formerly N-II), the old national radial route, which little by little turns into a highway. This route crosses the municipality of Girona through rural areas, the Valle de San Daniel. The construction of this route, crossing Girona through the most valuable and beautiful terrain, took place in 1990-1992. caused loud protests.
Autonomous highways passing through Girona:
- S-65, S-66, N 141, S-25 is nearby. The C-65 connects Girona with the coastal town of Sant Feliu de Guixols, the C-66 with Palafrugell and Bisbal del Ampurdão, Banyolas and Besalu, where it intersects with the A-26 state highway.
- The N-141 connects Girona with Bescano and Anglès, following the river Ter.
- S-25 - from Santa Coloma de Farners, Vich, Manresa and Cervera, where it unites with A-2.
Recently, small provincial highways have been built with the support of the Girona City Hall, connecting small settlements with the capital.
A number of metropolitan, regional and national buses run along all routes, connecting Girona with other cities. There are regular flights from Girona to Sant Feliu de Guixols, Santa Coloma de Farners, Lloret de Mar, as well as to all medium-sized and small towns along the route. The central bus station, from where all buses depart, is located next to the train station.
The largest city in northern Catalonia and the capital of the richest province of Spain - Gerona (Gerona, Girona, the Spaniards say Girona, the Catalans call their city Gerona, or Girona) grew up on the site of the ancient settlement of Gerunda, the founding date of which is not thoroughly known.
Girona is often called the “Immortal City” because it withstood 25 major sieges and attacks. The fortress walls serve as a kind of calling card of the city - you can walk along them and almost completely see the old city of Warri-Wel from above.
Sights of Girona
Embankment of the Onyar River is perhaps the most picturesque place in Girona - the facades of numerous old houses literally end up towards the river.
The main attraction of the city is the giant Gothic Girona Cathedral(XI-XVII centuries) with the largest Gothic nave in the world (22 meters in diameter) and Cathedral Museum of Medieval Art(Museu-Tresor de la Catedral, the second richest in Spain after Barcelona's MNAC). In a nearby complex Episcopal Palace located Girona Art Museum with a rich collection of religious art. From here you can climb to one of the main landmarks of the city - the tower Church of Santa Feliu(XIII century, in the 16th century it was “beheaded” by lightning and was never restored) or go to the perfectly preserved Arab baths(XII-XIII centuries).
Also worth attention City Archaeological Museum in the old Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, Museum of the History of Girona, nearby Archaeological passage, beautiful Plaza Independencia with numerous restaurants, shops and Cinema Museum, Jardins del Alemanis Park, iron bridge over Onyar works by Gustav Eiffel himself, as well as the best-preserved Jewish quarter in Western Europe - Kal, which is a kind of independent city within Gerona.
100 km northeast of.
Girona, the largest city in the North, became famous as the “city of a thousand sieges” - it stands on the most important ancient road, Via Augusta, laid by the Romans (along which the imperial troops marched from Cadiz), and was a desirable goal for everyone who dreamed of gaining a foothold in.
Girona weather:
Getting around Girona:
Girona railway and bus stations are located at Placa d'Espanya in 20 minutes. walking distance from the historical center of Girona.
The small river Onyar divides the city of Girona into two parts: the historical center of Barri Veil with the cathedral, Jewish quarter, Romanesque and Gothic buildings is located on the right bank, the modern areas of Barri del Mercadal are on the left bank .
Enough time to explore Girona half a day.
Girona Tourist Office:
- Rambla de la Llibertat, 1. 972 22 65 75,
- Mon-Fri 8.00-20.00, Sat 8.00-14.00, 16.00-18.00, Sun 9.00-14.00.
How to get to Girona:
Airport
- 11 km south of the city, 972 47 43 43. (daily 1 flight), summer charter flights to resorts.
By train to Girona
- (more than 20 times a day, 1 hour 45 minutes, 4.90-5.64 €),
- Figueres (more than 20 times a day, 30-40 min., 2.05-2.20 €);
- Port Bou (15 times a day, 3.20-3.70 €).
By bus to Girona
- (Estacio de Nord) (3-6 times a day, 1 hour 20 minutes, 9.20 €);
- Figueres (1 hour, 3.70€);
- beaches (3 times a day, bus SARFA );
- Besalu (up to 8 times a day, Sun 4.50 min, 3 €)
- Olot (1 hour 15 minutes, 5.25 €) .
By car to Girona
- Route A-7( - ).
History of Girona:
- VV. BC. An Iberian settlement appears on the site of the future city of Girona; The Roman troops that later captured it founded the fortress of Gerunda (from Latin “to fight”) in its place.
- III. The Romans build city walls.
- V- VI. Girona becomes an important religious center of the Visigoths; in 517, one of the first councils of the Catholic priesthood was convened here.
- MiddleVIII. The Arabs conquered Girona.
- 797. The Franks took possession of Girona, it became the center of one of the Catalan counties included in the Spanish March.
- XI. A large community emerged in Girona, whose activities contributed to the commercial rise of the city.
- 1285. The heroic defense of Girona from the army.
- 1460-1470s. The civil war in Catalonia, in which residents of the city of Girona took an active part. The city was under siege many times, power often passed from the townspeople to the king's supporters.
- 1809. Girona was captured three times by Napoleonic troops.
Tourist route in Girona:
Arriving in Girona, go to the embankment of the Onyar River, to PlatadeCatalunya(Catalunya Square). This is one of the main city squares; behind it, on the right bank of the river, begins a beautifully preserved fortress wall, surrounding ancient Roman Girona; broken next to the wall gardens(Jardines de la Muralla).
We advise you to climb the fortress wall and walk along it to imagine the size of the ancient city. You can go down from the wall at Placa de Josep Ferrater i Mora, next to Monastery of San Domenech(Convent de Sant Domenec). The monastery, one of the first Gothic buildings in Catalonia, was founded in the 13th century; it is now transferred to the University of Gerona.
From the monastery along Carrer de Bellmiral (Belmiral street) you can go to the ancient episcopal palace (XII-XVI), in which the Art Museum(Museu d’Art, Placa de la Catedral, 12, BC 10.00-14.00, May-September Tue-Sat 10.00-19.00, Oct.-April 10.00-18.00, closed Mon.)
Girona Cathedral:
Opposite the palace is the main building of the city of Girona - Cathedral(LaSeu de Gerona, 9.00-13.00, museum, Sun 10.00-14.00, summer Tue-Sat 10.00-20.00, autumn-winter Tue-Sat 10.00-14.00, 16.00-18.00, spring Tue-Sat 10.00-14.00, 16.00-19.0 0, Mon closed), the bell tower of which is decorated with a weather vane with a bronze angel. A giant staircase of 90 steps leads to the main western facade - in the 17th century, at the time of its construction it was the largest in Spain.
The history of this place begins with the Roman sanctuary of Apollo, on the ruins of which in the 6th century. a Visigothic burial appeared; it was replaced by a Romanesque tomb of the 10th-11th centuries. And in 1312, construction began on the Girona Cathedral, influenced by French models. The cathedral has one of the widest naves - 22.8 m (length - 50 m, height - 35 m). The cathedral acquired its modern appearance in the 17th century, when the interiors and facades were rebuilt in the Catalan Baroque style. A small museum is opened in the temple, which houses a unique woven carpet “The Creation of the World” from the 11th-12th centuries. and rare illustrated manuscripts of the 10th century.
Carrer de la Forca (Forsa Street) departs from Placa de la Catedral; the area between this street and the city wall was inhabited by Jews in the Middle Ages and was called El-Kal (E1 Call, from other Hebrew “community”); here in the 13th century. A school of Kabbalah developed - it was in the city of Girona that the doctor and Kabbalist philosopher Ramban, who later became the chief rabbi of Catalonia, was born and lived. The entire Jewish quarter consists of confused streets, alleys, and dead ends; Since Girona is located on a small hill, many of the streets are just narrow stairs.
Museums of Girona:
The Center Bonastruc ca Porta on Carrer de la Forca is open Museum of the History of the Jews of Girona(Museu d’Historia dels Jueus de Girona, Oct.-Apr. Mon-Sat 10.00-18.00, May-Sept. Mon-Sat 10.00-20.00, Sun 10.00-15.00).
On the same street in the building of the Capuchin monastery of the 18th century. open Museum of the History of the City of Girona(Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat, Carrer de la Forca, 27, Tue-Sat 10.00-14.00, 17.00-19.00, Sun 10.00-14.00, closed Mon.). After visiting it, you can see the ancient monastery cemetery.
And going down the Carrer de la Forca to Placa de l’Oli, you can admire the house of Fontana deOr(Fontana d'Or), owned by a Roman patrician and rebuilt in the Middle Ages.
Church of Sant Feliu:
After exploring the Jewish Quarter, return to Placa de la Catedral (Catedral Square); on its northern side there is a Gothic Church of Sant Feliu(Iglesia de SantFeliu), rebuilt by J. de Tornay in the 14th century. from a Romanesque temple. The church was erected over the graves of Saints Felix and Narseso, patrons of the city. St. Felix the African was martyred at the beginning of the 4th century. pagan Romans, and one of the legends claims that this happened in a tower that stood on the site of the current temple. Inside the church, Roman and early Christian sarcophagi, Romanesque columns, and a 16th-century altar have been preserved. and the alabaster figure of Christ (1350), highly revered by local residents. The multi-towered bell tower of the temple has become a symbol of the city of Girona.
Arab baths of Girona:
Opposite the temple, on the other side of Pujada del Rei Marti, there is a Romanesque building from the 12th century, which is usually called Arab baths(Banos Arabes, summer Tue-Sun 10.00-19.00, winter Tue-Sun 10.00-14.00, closed Mon), although they have nothing to do with the Arabs. The baths were built in the 12th century, several centuries after the expulsion of the Arabs from the city of Girona; they consist of a caldarium (hot bath) with a mosaic floor and a frigidarium (cold bath) with a swimming pool. At the end of the 13th century. The building was destroyed by the French, then it was restored and transferred to the Capuchin monastery. In 1929, the Arab Baths opened to the public.
Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligans:
After crossing the narrow, almost dry Galligans River, which flows behind the baths, you will find yourself near the Benedictine Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligans(Monestir de Sant Pere de Galligants), in which from the middle of the 19th century. The Archaeological Museum is open (Museu Arqueologic, Santa Llucia, 1, Sun 10.00-14.00, May-Sept. Tue-Sat 10.30-13.30, 16.00-19.00, Oct.-Apr. 10.30-13.30, 16.00-18.00, closed Mon). This monastery outside the city wall of the city of Girona is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.
The monastery was founded in 772, construction was completed only in 1130. Numerous tombstones were preserved in the monastery church (after the opening of the museum, ancient Jewish tombstones were also moved here). Ancient burials have been preserved in Church of San Nicolau(Iglesia de Sant Nicolau), located in front of the monastery. This temple was built in the 12th century. it is believed that the churches of Italian Lombardy served as a model for it.
Returning across the bridge to the cathedral part of the city, you can complete your acquaintance with the city of Girona on the Passeig Arqueologic, which begins at the northern wall of the cathedral, next to the square and runs along the city wall. Here you can admire the San Cristofol Gate (Portal de Sant Cristofol, XVIII) and climb the defensive Gironello Tower(Torre Gironella), which offers beautiful views of the city.