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City in Catalonia, Spain
Photo: Mezcal aka Vitaliy Krylov, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Girona is the chief city of Província de Girona in Catalonia, northeast Spain. In 2023 the city had a population of 104,320, with about another 50,000 in the adjoining town of Salt.
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Cathedral of Saint Mary of Girona
The main entrance from C de la Força is up a long broad flight of stairs: approach from the side streets if you wish to avoid these. Construction began in the 11th century in Romanesque style, but most of the interior is Gothic from the 13th century, including the yawning 23-m-wide nave. The west facade and approach stairs are 17th-century Baroque. In the Treasury & Museum is the Tapestry of Creation from around 1100. Your ticket includes this and nearby Sant Feliu, and you can also include the art museum.
This was the city's principal church before the present cathedral. It was built from the 12th century until the 17th, so there's a mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque. It has eight Roman and early Christian sarcophagi of the 3rd and 4th centuries, along with the Gothic tomb of Narcissus of Girona, an early bishop. Feliu himself is St Felix, born in Scillium (nowadays in Tunisia) and martyred in Girona in 304 AD.
Extensive art collection, mostly medieval and Renaissance, in the former episcopal palace next to the cathedral.
This bathhouse was built in Romanesque style in 1194, over 400 years after the Muslim rulers were ousted from the city; the "Arab" tag only stuck in the 19th century. They've been restored but you can't bathe.
Large display of the city's history, housed in an 18th-century convent. Entrance to temporary exhibitions is always free.
Archaeology Museum
11th and 12th century Romanesque monastery with peaceful cloister. The small archaeology display is rather lost in this great space.
There was a large Jewish community in Girona for centuries until their persecution and ousting in 1492. This small but packed museum tells their story.
Rafael Masó i Valentí (1880-1935) was an outstanding Catalan architect, part of the Noucentisme conservative reaction against Modernisme. He was born in this house (a knock-through of four riverfront properties) and redesigned it in 1912-19. Visit by pre-booked guided tour.
König is a fast-food chain, serving burger sandwiches and the like. This branch is the most central, with air-conditioned indoor tables on two floors and a courtyard. Other branches are at C Migdia 7 two blocks east of the railway station, Camí de la Font de l'Abat 23 in the north suburbs, and Plaça de la Independència west of the river.
Original and delicious tapas or full meals.
Great variety of tapas. It has a small terrace outside and a small dining room within.
Italian restaurant, one of the more reliable places on main plaza.
Ice cream parlour with other food.
Chain outlet for artisan and organic yogurts.
Trad cafe serving xocolata calenta (hot chocolate), coffee and meals.
Serving traditional crêpes plus GF and lactose-free options.
Coffees, teas, hot chocolates, pastries and waffles.
Peruvian restaurant doing good ceviche and grilled chicken.
Relaxing bistro in the southeast corner of Devesa park.
Informal, fresh modern cuisine with Catalan overtones.
Generous portions of decent food and good wine.
Bar/restaurant with veggie/vegan food and craft beer.
Good food with a set menu and wines.
Classic fare with seasonal dishes and a wide wine list.
Lively place for tapas and Basque cuisine.
Mixed reviews for this modern place.
Pleasant cafe with indoor and outdoor tables near the university, serving Catalan cuisine.
Popular Basque restaurant serving pintxos, similar to tapas.
High quality local cuisine. It's a small place, so you might need to book.
Upmarket seafood chain. Mostly good reviews, a few found it overpriced theatre, picking out your fresh fish from the ice tray while juggling your glass of cava.
Wonderful modern Spanish food.
Rave reviews for their modern Catalan cuisine. Reservations essential.
Bar specialising in natural / low intervention wine in a charming street. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Lapsus Cafe
Good choice for late drinks on main plaza.
Cafe bar with decent food by the Basilica, sometimes has live music.
Bustling friendly Irish chain pub with TV sport and decent food.
Live jazz and other music with strong cocktails.
Late spot for rumba and other live music, though it's often too crowded to dance.
Basic hostel with 4- and 10-bunk rooms.
Small pension with friendly host.
Simple pension in a colourful alley.
Chain hotel, cleanliness erratic by Accor standards, and a 30 min walk to town.
Simple central guest house.
Pleasant spacious hotel on the hillside 1 km from town.
Modern value hotel near the station.
Clean central hotel, some fittings in need of repair.
Smart central hotel.
Friendly full-service bike & accessory sales, repairs and rental shop. They also organise cycling tours.
By train
Four high speed international trains per day run from Barcelona Sants (one starting from Madrid via Zaragoza), taking 40 min non-stop to Girona.
By bus
The bus station is underground within the high-speed part of the railway station.
By road
From France follow A9 / E15 south past Narbonne, Perpignan and Figueres.
By bus
By bicycle
There are many well-signed bicycle trails in and around the city. See "Buy" for the bike shop near Plaza de Catalunya.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Girona · International · GRO
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