History
The city of Girona has a long and complicated history, beset with invasions and many different occupying civilisations. The first inhabitants on record were the native Iberians. During the Roman occupation, a citadel was built which was given the name Gerunda. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths ruled for a relatively short period of time until the Moors invaded the area and ended up ruling for many years. The Moors were defeated and expelled from the city in 1015. Girona officially became a city of the Kingdon of Aragon in the 11th century.
During the 12th century, the city saw a huge influx in Jewish settlers, making Girona one of the most important areas for Jewish culture and teachings in Europe. However, by 1492 the Spanish kings had driven the entire Jewish community out of the city. The Jewish ghetto or ‘call’ is still to this day an area of great religious importance and a major tourist attraction.
Girona has endured a turbulent past, suffering 25 sieges and 7 occupations. Between the years of 1650 and 1809, the city was continually raided and captured by invading French forces. The last French occupation saw the city become the centre of the Ter department – the name of the French ruling authority, named after the River Ter. Spain eventually broke free from French occupation in 1813. The defensive walls of the city were demolished at the end of the 19th century to allow the city to expand; however, some parts of the city wall have since been reconstructed and form part of the tourist route, the Passeig de la Muralla.
Population
Situated in the north-east of Catalonia, the city has an estimated population of around 95,000. Girona airport is only 100km from Barcelona and many holiday-makers on budget airlines such as Ryanair, fly into Girona and then make their way to Barcelona and the Costa Brava by road. Located in north-east Spain, Girona has a wider, provincial population of 500,000. The region is extremely diverse with its mountainous countryside and breath-taking coastlines.
Places to Visit
The city of Girona is relatively small so exploring the sites on foot is quite possible. There are a number of historical sites in the city to explore.
Passeig Arqueologic – Translated as the Archaeological Walk, this attraction includes the remains of an ancient Roman road. Along the walk there is the old quarter, the Arab Baths, the cathedral and the Jewish Quarter.
La Rambla de la Libertad – This street is located at the end of the Passeig Arqueologic. The area is famed for its boutiques, shops, restaurants and trendy cafes.
Girona Cathedral – Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, this gothic style church also has a western façade that is designed with a Baroque styling. The cathedral is home to the marble throne of Carlomagno, built in his honour when troops took over the city in 785AD. The Tapestry of Creation, dating back to the 11th century, can also be found in the cathedral.
Museum of Girona History – Housed in an old 18th century convent, the museum is home to many ancient artefacts found in and around the city. People can get a real feeling of the city’s turbulent past.
The Jewish Quarter – Preserved for centuries, this area is one of huge religious and historical significance.
The Church of Saint Feliu – Constructed over the tombs of the city’s patron saints, Felix and Narcisco, the church has a beautiful tower.
The Bonastruc Ca Porta Centre – The centre depicts how the Jewish were persecuted and made to live in horrific conditions. Many of the buildings have been restored and the religious and historical implications of this area make the museum a hugely popular tourist location.
Cuisine
The cuisine of Girona is typically Spanish with the use of lots of seafood, freshly grown, local vegetables and olive oil. However, there are a lot meats used in Girona cooking and dishes such as lobster and chicken are popular. More game, beef and lamb is used than in the coastal towns and villages. The cuisine also includes the use of local mushrooms and cheeses giving the food in Girona a very particular taste.
Tomatoes, aubergines, garlic, red pepper and artichokes are very popular vegetables in the area and are all grown locally in the Catalan region. The use of chickpeas and chickpea flour is widespread as well as the use of many different spicy sausages. The cuisine served in Girona is a true cross section of that eaten in the wider Catalonian community. The inland villages favour rich meats and vegetables whilst the coastal towns rely more on fish. The merging of the two creates an exciting and dynamic cuisine. The many tapas bars of the city are thriving with local ambience and traditional Catalonian fayre.
Accommodation
The pace of living in Girona is much more laid back and gentle than in nearby Barcelona. Whilst many holiday-makers favour the neighbouring coastal resorts, there are a number of restaurants, bars and fantastic hotels waiting to be discovered in the historic city of Girona. The hotels within the city offer the opportunity to walk around the city and never be too far away from base. However, these inner-city locations offer little or no leisure facilities, so if a pool, tennis court or golf course is required, it may be worth looking at locations just outside the city.
For those who want to stay within the city and live the famous Girona atmosphere, then there are two great four star hotels to choose from. The Hotel Ciutat de Gerona is situated right by the old quarter and is ideal for people who like to be right near the action. The Hotel Carlemay is conveniently situated a short walking distance from both the old and new quarters of the city. For those on a budget, there are a number of hostels, low cost apartments, three and two star hotels along with camp-sites just outside the city boundaries.
Weather
The Girona climate is pleasant and generally fine for the vast majority of the year. The ideal weather can be found between late May and July, when there is a minimum of rain and warm sunshine for several hours a day. August is the hottest month of the year when temperatures can often reach the high 30Cs. The average temperature in the autumn months of October and November is around 20C making it a pleasant time to visit.
Rain is much more likely in the autumn but it usually falls as short, sharp showers and bright sunshine with clear blue skies usually follow. The average temperature during the winter months is around 9c – 12C but on occasions it can get significantly cooler than that. There is usually still plenty of sunshine to enjoy but this time of year does carry the risk of the odd overcast day.
Transport
The city of Girona has a very good bus service which covers all the main areas of the city. For the energetic, the city is small enough to cover by foot but covering different tourist locations in the same say may require the use of a taxi. Taxis in Girona can be found at the bus station, airport and train station as well as all of the major tourist locations. Hotels and restaurants will order taxis but passengers should beware that drivers will start the meter when they get the call, not when they pick up. It is also a condition of a taxi driver’s licence that they use a meter for every trip. If a driver attempts to negotiate a fare, another cab should be sought.
There is a regular train service to nearby Barcelona as well as many of the other nearby towns and villages. For day-trippers, there are also a number of shuttle service to the resorts of Tossa de mar and Lloret de Mar. Girona has its own airport which receives flights from all over Europe, with many of the budget airlines using it as a way into the wider area. Barcelona is only 100km away and receives flights from all over the world.
