Gorgeous and amazing, unique and passionate Spain. What is the first thing that comes to mind of a tourist who has visited this country at the mention of it? Probably, for most travelers, Spain is associated with bullfighting, siesta, football.
Content:
Attractions in Girona
Short description
Shoppers will not miss the opportunity to say that there are quite a few interesting boutiques and outlets in Spain. Of course, Spain is a paradise for those who want to relax on the white and pristine beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. However, Spain is also a real "find" for those who are interested in history, culture and, undoubtedly, architectural monuments.
Houses on the banks of the Onyar River
The Catalan city of Girona is amazing. It is located in the northern part of the country, just a hundred kilometers from Barcelona and almost 60 kilometers from the border with France. By the way, you can get from Barcelona to Girona in just an hour and a halfMoreover, the trip will bring every tourist an unforgettable experience, because the road lies along the sea coast, old Catalan villages, where most of the population is fishing, and the majestic Medieval castles.
Like many other Spanish cities, Girona can be divided into “two cities”: modern and old. Developed infrastructure, a large number of cafes and restaurants, ultra-modern buildings - all this can be seen in the new part of the city. For those who wish to get to know the sights better, travel agencies in their numerous avenues recommend paying attention to the old part of Girona, rich in unique historical monuments.
Church of Saint Philip
The New and Old Towns in Girona are separated by a rather wide river called Onyar, and they are "connected" by bridges. There are six of them (!), And they seem to symbolize the passage to the inner world of Girona, to its historical past. By the way, the development of the project for one of the iron bridges was the world famous creator of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - the legendary architect Gustave Eiffel. Today, the Old Town in Girona welcomes guests with plastered bright facades of buildings that seem to grow out of the water and protect its inhabitants from ill-wishers, like a fortress wall. However, until the 17th century, the city was indeed surrounded by a fortress, which, alas, turned out to be useless as soon as artillery appeared in the armament of the enemies.
Attractions in the old town of Girona
As soon as you step on the narrow cobbled street of the Old Town, you immediately seem to plunge into the past, here literally everything, every stone reminds of ancient times. The old town in Girona has its center - Boulevard Llibertat, from which small streets branch off, which immediately develop into the same small squares. So, on the square of Josep-Ferrator-i-Mora, there is an interesting monastery of San Dominic for travelers.
Girona Cathedral
Almost next to it stands the gloomy-looking monastery of Olin, dating back to the 13th century. Olin Monastery is of historical and architectural value because it is one of the first buildings in Girona in the Gothic style. Currently, the most ordinary university is located within its walls.
On the high hill of the Old Town in Girona, the impressive size of the Catholic Cathedral rises, made in the same Gothic style, and is one of the main attractions of the Catalan city. "When in Girona, in its Old Town, be sure to go inside the temple!" - this is the advice of tourists who have had time to feel on themselves all that mystical atmosphere that comes from one of the widest Gothic nave in the world. Nearby there is a museum, in which a huge number of historical monuments are presented as exhibits: sculptures, manuscripts, tombs and priceless old products made of noble metal by ancient craftsmen. The works of Romanesque weavers are also displayed here. Among them is the world famous "Creation of the World" carpet dating from the 9th century AD.
Monastery of Saint Peter Galligans
You can see one of the rare treasures of the past, a painted altar of the 10th century, in the Art Museum, located in the Episcopal Palace and located to the right of the Cathedral, if you look at its facade with an entrance and the famous staircase.
Jewish Quarter in Girona
Cathedral Square is a kind of beginning of Forsa Street. In the Middle Ages, this street was the center of the Jewish quarter, the largest in all of Spain. It was here that the world's first Kabbalah school was opened in the 13th century. Its discoverer is considered, according to most modern historians, a doctor, philosopher and rabbi Moses ben Nachman, who, thanks to Talmudic teachings, eventually became the chief rabbi of all Catalonia. You can learn more about all the nuances of his teachings in the Bonastruca-sa-Porta Center, which warmly welcomes every guest of the city. In addition, you can visit the Museum of Jewish History. By the way, the cost of the entrance ticket is low, as in many other architectural monuments and museums in Spain.
Fortress wall
It should be added that the Jewish quarter in the Old Town of Girona is a real labyrinth of streets and alleys, alleys and dead ends: it is quite easy to get lost among them without a guide or a detailed map. In addition, often on your way you can find streets in the form of a descending or ascending staircase. The point is that this quarter is located on a hill, which "dictated" its own building rules to the architects. Here you can also see the Arab (according to some sources, Jewish) baths, dating back to the same 13th century. Here, on the territory of the Jewish quarter, there are several churches made in the Gothic and Romanesque styles. Perhaps the most famous is the Gothic-style temple of San Feliu. Inside the church, there is currently a museum, where there are quite interesting exhibits. In it you can see sarcophagi: Roman and early Christian. Every visitor to Girona will be interested to see the alabaster figure of Christ the Savior, made by a sculptor in 1350.
Old town and modernity
The Old Town in Girona will not leave any traveler hungry. Cafes, restaurants and bars, as well as in the new part of the city, are ready to receive travelers tired of sightseeing. You can find the most varied menu: from national Spanish to Russian cuisine.
Jewish quarter
For every taste, and most importantly - a wallet, numerous confectionery and fruit shops offer their sweets, which are quite often found in the labyrinths of numerous streets. For those who have already managed to get acquainted with the sights of Girona, taste the culinary delights of Spanish chefs and pastry chefs, the doors of numerous shopping stores and branded supermarkets are open, which is quite rare in the historical centers of European cities.
It will not be superfluous to note that going on a tour of Spain, and arriving in Girona at the end of October, you can find yourself at the Saint Narcissus fair held annually here. The holiday is named after the patron saint of the city of Girona and is of a religious nature. Another massive and popular holiday among the guests of the city is the spring flower festival, which has been held in Girona annually at the end of May, since 1955.In addition, Girona hosts folk music festivals, street concerts, film festivals, and children's parties.
Gustav Eiffel Bridge over the Onyar River
Summing up a small summary, it can be noted that everyone who decides to go on vacation to Girona will not be disappointed, since this relatively small and, by modern standards, sparsely populated town is rich in unique historical sights that cannot leave any traveler indifferent. ...
