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Girona, Art & Culture

The province of Girona is located north of Barcelona, about an one-hour drive away. It has a population of about half a million inhabitants. The capital is Girona, and the entire province is divided up into six judicial districts, eight regions. The most striking characteristic about of the province is undoubtedly its great diversity. From a tourist point of view it can offer a magnificent coastal area -the internationally recognised Costa Brava- as well as a fine mountain region, which is ideal for both tourism and the practice of a wide variety of sports. This balance between coastal and inland scenery, along with a mild climate, attract tourists to the province throughout the year.

The city of Girona: 2000 years of History

The city of Girona, so-called 'City of the Four Rivers', has a population of around 75,000 people. The city features a truly wonderful historic centre dominated by medieval buildings and many reminders of the city’s Roman, Arab and Jewish past.

Inside the walled enclosure of the city known as La Forca Vella is the Jewish Quarter, where the Jewish community lived for six centuries from 890 to 1492. It is considered one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Western Europe. Here the Jews exercised a great influence and projected their skills and knowledge far beyond the city limits. Life in the `aljama´ (Jewish community) was concentrated around the synagogue, which had various sites over the years. The very prestigious Kabbalistic School was founded here, the first in the Iberian Peninsula. There is an exhibition in the Bonastruc Ca Porta Centre (named after the Rabbi of the Girona Cabalists and which contains the Jewish History Museum and the Nahmanides Institute) on the way of life of the Girona Jews. It features one of the most important collections of Jewish tombstones in Europe.

Girona´s Cathedral, which is reached by a very steep staircase, is home to the widest gothic nave in world. The Cathedral’s Museum displays the famous 12th century Tapestry of the Creation, the 10th century Beatus Codex and a rich collection of medieval gold and silverwork. The Girona Art Museum, located in the old Episcopal Palace, is where some of the most important medieval art collections of Catalonia are exhibited. If you visit the cathedral close to sunset, be sure to climb the narrow streets behind, to the city walls. From here the view over the city and entire plain is breathtaking. Close to the cathedral is the 13th-century Arab Baths which is well worth visiting. Despite the presence of elements of Muslim origin, this is a Romanesque building, inspired by the Roman thermal or public baths.

Girona is a wonderful place for a short break or as a base for longer stays.