What to Do in Girona
If you’re spending any time at all on the Costa Brava in Spain, you absolutely cannot afford to miss the lovely town of Girona. It’s a wondrous place full of mystery and history. And yes, we meant for that to rhyme.
Any Google search will pop up the images like the one featured above. The city is renowned for its beauty and architecture. And no wonder since it’s been around for over 2000 years. Yes, Girona was founded, as far as we can tell, in 79 BC. And in a town that’s as old as civilisation itself, there is so much more to see than some colourful buildings by a river. Let’s figure out what to do in Girona.
The Jewish Quarter
One of the greatest tributes to the old way of life in Girona is the Jewish Quarter, a section of the city that has existed in some form for over 600 years. The quarter isn’t as old as the Jewish history here since they’ve been around for almost 1000 years. It was in the Jewish Quarter that the people founded their own part of town. When you walk through the old buildings and narrow streets, you’ll fall in love with the history of this people group.
The Jews were given special interest by the king, paying more taxes and earning more protection from the royal guard in the city. Because of that favour, they were able to establish special governance over certain sectors of the city, the Jewish Quarter you know today.
If you’re here for more than a few hours, you’ll discover that Girona is called the Mother City of Israel, and that’s because the population of Jews made such a strong impact on the city. Many of the homes and buildings remind people of Jerusalem, which is the way they were intended to be. It will take you at least half a day to fully explore the buildings, the museums and the houses in this part of town. Fans of the Game of Thrones TV series will remember certain scenes that were filmed in these streets.
Lake Banyoles
Not too far from the town centre is the quiet Lake Banyoles. It’s the largest freshwater lakes in Catalonia and a great spot to slow down. The lake is refreshing in the summer when all you want to do is beat the summer heat. Stroll along the water’s edge or hire a boat to leisurely paddle around the water on a lovely day.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics held their rowing events in this lake, so it’s an ideal spot to spend some time out on the water. But if swimming and boating isn’t your style, grab some food from the local cafes and restaurants and relax under the shade of a tree while you dine by the lake.
Onyar River
The view along the Onyar River is the epitome of Girona. The calm water, curves around a bend, reflecting the colourful old homes that line its banks. These are the images that you’ll remember when you leave the town.
The river crosses through the city and provides perfect vantage points for selfies and snapshots. It’s an ideal location to sit and relax, basking in the sunshine and view of the home along the water’s edge. One of the homes is the Casa Maso, an open place that allows the public to see what these homes used to be once upon a time.
You can even stroll along a bridge that has a famous name: the Eiffel bridge. Yes, that Eiffel. The bridge was constructed by the Eiffel Company in 1827 and still stands today. Make sure you pick a day with lots of sun to get the perfect picture of your time in Girona.
The Wall Walk
Because the first settlements were established by the Roman civilisation, many of the structures in the town remind people of Italy more than Spain. But one unique structure that stands above them all is the notorious Roman wall that lines certain streets. The wall is still in excellent condition, a testament to the power and ingenuity of Roman structure and design.
You can walk the 3km wall to get the best vantage point of the entire city. You can see 360 degrees around and get a unique perspective on the cathedral and rooftops of the homes around you. There are several access points to get up to the wall walk, and you can stop and start wherever you want. The whole experience is free and is a convenient way to get around the city to see where you want to go next.
The Arabian Baths
Although they were once banished to be outside of the city walls, the Arab baths are smack in the middle of the town. You may be staying a nice private villa during your time here, but I guarantee that they have nothing like this. The name is a bit misleading as the architecture and design are completely Roman with some Moorish inspirations. The bath houses are an example of the ingenious inhabitants who figured out how to have cold baths, temperate baths, and hot baths at a time before refrigeration or central heating existed. The changing room is actually the highlight of the baths, an octagon-shaped pool with ornate columns rising high up to the ceiling, supporting the arches of the building.
The Girona Cathedral
You can’t help but see the rising spire of the Girona Cathedral from any part of the city. It’s the dominating feature of the skyline and a “must visit” for anybody that’s new to town.
The cathedral is enormous. When you stand at the base of the stairs and look up to the tower high above, you’ll be astonished to learn that many parts of this cathedral have been standing like that for hundreds of years. Many visitors to the church draw comparisons to St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican as a close cousin. From its tower, you can see every part of the city as the cathedral almost watches over the inhabitants of the town. When you come, you absolutely must visit the Tapestry of Creation, a woven historical depiction that has existed since the 1000’s.
Girona is so much more than an Instagram picture for your followers. It’s a city rich in stories with hundreds of years of tales to tell. Visitors are sure to discover much more than we could cover in the span of a single article. Come find out why Girona is such an important hub of the Costa Brava.
