The old town of Girona is a popular day trip from Barcelona, about 2 hours by train and slightly less time by car. It stands on the steep hill of the Capuchins to the west of the river, while the more modern section stands on the plains to the east. The city is easy to explore by walking its narrow streets, passageways, and along its ancient Roman wall. The Roman city wall, the ‘Passeig Arqueològic’ (the archeological walk), begins at the northern edge of the city. Within the wall you can still see the remains of a Roman road, built to connect Rome to Tarragona. Continuing along the wall you can visit the old quarter, seeing churches, the Banys Arabs (Arabic baths), the Cathedral, museums, and the old Jewish quarter. In the beautiful historic Jewish quarter are lots of museums and stone buildings, wedged against narrow cobbled streets. There are many quaint bars and restaurants in this area, as well as charming boutiques. Once out of the old quarter, stroll around la Rambla de la Libertad, a street where you can find all sorts of shops, boutiques, restaurants and fashionable cafés. The views of Las Cases de L’Onyar (painted houses along the Onyar River) from its bridges are breathtaking. We liked the old quarter of Girona almost as much as the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona.

The old fortifications played a vital role in protecting Girona from invaders for hundreds of years. The city wall of the old town was an important military construction built in Roman times in the 1st century BC. It was thoroughly rebuilt under the reign of Peter III the Ceremonious in the second half of the 14th century. The Roman wall was used as the foundation. At the start of the 16th century, the wall was absorbed in the city. It is possible to walk the entire length of the walls and climb the towers, where one can enjoy the panoramic views of Girona and its surrounding countryside.

The ancient cathedral, which stood on the site of the present one, was used by the Moors as a mosque and, after their final expulsion, was either entirely remodeled or rebuilt. The present edifice is one of the most important monuments of the school of the Majorcan architect, Jaume Fabre, and an excellent example of Spanish Gothic architecture. There are eighty-six steps in its approach. The Collegiate Church of Sant Feliu is noteworthy for its fourteenth-century Gothic style architecture, the façade dating from the 18th century. It is one of the few Spanish churches which possesses a genuine spire.

Top Ten Reason to visit Girona:

Cases de L’Onyar, painted houses along River Onyar
Pont de les Peixateries Velles and other bridges along River Onyar
Call Jueu (Jewish Quarter)
Arab Baths
Sant Pere de Galligants Monastery
Girona Cathedral
Rambla de la Llibertat
Jardins de la Francesa, gardens
El Passeig Arqueològic, a promenade along the old Roman and city walls
El Celler de Can Roca, 3-Star Michelin Restaurant (see blog below for review of this restuarant)

Gallery below, left to right: Marla Pittman on staircase leading to Convent of Sant Domènec, arched stone passageway, Arab Bath oculus, bridges and painted houses along River Onyar, city and Roman walls, panoramic views of city from archeological walk along Roman wall, gardens, rooftops, alleyways, and sunset over the city.

(Photography credit: Stephanie Chambers)