Girona
 

1/2 Day

Girona has all the charm of a large city but without the crowds; a very “human-sized” city that will leave you walking around awestruck with your eyes wide open and your mouth agape at all it has to offer: its streets, festivals, cultural activities, restaurants, tourist services and events. Make the most of your visit at any time of year, and if you can, visit more than once, because the city is very much alive and there are always new things to surprise you.

Barri Vell is the name given to the historic centre of Girona, from Gran Via avenue, located on the line of the medieval wall demolished in the 19th century, to the Passeig de la Muralla, town wall walk.

After the image of the houses on the Onyar, what opens up is an architectural legacy blending the brushstrokes of the baroque monumentalism of the Cathedral stairs and the Pujada de Sant Domènec, or the facade and the stairs of the church of Sant Feliu, with the elegant sobriety of the romanesque buildings such as the ancient monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants or the Arab Baths. A constant reference point in the Girona skyline is the Cathedral, with the widest gothic nave in Europe, which rises up beside one of the most singular of urban spaces, El Call, the old Jewish quarter.

The rehabilitation of the town wall has converted a part of the system of defence into an exceptional walk where a different perspective of the town can be enjoyed. From the towers, now turned into privileged view points you can take pleasure in the spectacular vistas of Girona and surroundings.

Laid out almost entirely in stone, Girona offers spectacular views of porticoed squares and steep alleyways. Its most emblematic sight, however, are the Houses on the Onyar -the river flowing through the city-, painted in bright colors against the impressing background images of Sant Feliu and the Cathedral.

The original cathedral Girona's was a Romanesque building (S. XI-XII) which was redesigned by Pere Sacoma in 1312. After a few years of dubitation, Guillem Bofill and Antoni Canet start the genial project in 1416. The new design consisted of a big Gothic revival nave, the widest Gothic nave in the world—22.98 m (75.39 ft)—and the second widest nave of all styles after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  

From the original Romanesque cathedral (consecrated: September 21, 1038), it has a cloister and tower (called "Torre de Carlemany"), with outstanding relief sculptures. The cathedral also has the Tapís de la Creació (Tapestry of the Creation), a very rare large 11th century tapestry depicting the creation of the world, the months of the year and Biblical characters.

Excursions

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