Girona
We visited the city of Girona quite often, but, surprisingly, all our visits were connected with the local airport – one of Russian low-cost airlines brings tourists there. And almost all the time, we perceived Girona as a “neighborhood of Barcelona” and a kind of “old step” on the way to the big city. It was totally undeserved. Finally, we decided to correct this injustice. I have not seen such enthusiasm to take photos for a long time.
The history of the city begins before our era, because the Iberians who settled these places needed a fortified structure on the road to Gaul, and the Romans needed the same for wars with the Moors. It was the Romans who gave the name “Gerund” to the settlement, which later became Girona. The County of Girona (one of 14 original Catalan counties), which passed under the rule of various ruling dynasties (mainly France and Spain), was formed as a result of various feudal collisions in the Middle Ages.
In relatively recent history, Girona has been damaged hard during the Napoleonic Wars. Its fortress walls, which are a tourist sign today, were badly damaged too. Now several of its fragments are open for visiting, and the streets of the old city replaced the other destroyed fragments. But it’s definitely worth it to climb the walls – you can find an amazing panorama of the city there.
The Onyar River divides the city into two parts: the modern city on one side, and the historical center with well-preserved medieval buildings on the other side. And, although the river is quite small, it does not affect the beauty of embankments. And several old bridges only enhance this impression.
Also, there is the redeveloped Jewish quarter in the old city. An extensive Jewish community has been existing in Girona Since the Middle Ages, in the local community is the second after Barcelona. Nowadays, this quarter can be found along the street Carrer de la Force.
One of significant landmarks of Girona is the Iron Bridge, built in 1877, connecting the old and new towns. During the days of the high tourist season, it is quite difficult task to take an “individual” photo on this bridge, but if you select inopportune times, you will certainly succeed.
The Independence Square is also included in the list of places to visit. It recalls the events of the Napoleonic wars, when French troops undertook a bloody siege of the city.
Of course, there are several recognizable Gothic cathedrals, each of which gives a special charm to the old cirt.
I should note that the weather was not lucky during our stay – most of the time it was raining and cold. However, we used these circumstances to try the cuisine of the local restaurants and bars. And if everything went smoothly with the bars (absolutely all of them were atmospheric, cozy, cool), then the restaurant was not so good: we decided to choose Divinum from the Michelin guide, and spent a pretty decent amount for a simple meal. The same we can say about the hotel – nothing special for this price, but, you can take your dog in. Next time we will pay closer attention to rating and feedbacks – there were issues with ventilation, and it was problematic to sleep. So, we will look more attentively on Hotels-Scanner.
However, a walk along the city walls with a wide panoramic view of the town, a garden of amazing beauty inside the walls, narrow streets of the old town, beautiful both during rainy and sunny weather – all of this created a surprisingly pleasant impression of this town. Definitely, Girona is worth it to appreciate all its charms on your own. And all the information about the city you can easily find with a guide at a special internet resource Excurzilla.com.
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