Costa Brava Tourism Guide - Girona

Girona Sightseeing Tours, Girona Cathedral, Architecture & Monuments

Girona's stunning list of historic medieval architecture and monuments is a huge draw for visitors. Such a cluster of preserved historic buildings on this scale is rarely found. Girona is the largest city in the North Catalonia region and boasts some of the finest Catalan Romanesque architecture alongside Arab baths and The Call or Jewish Quarter which dates from the Middle Ages. Girona's Jewish Quarter is one of the best preserved in Europe.

Girona's key historic buildings and monuments include the magnificent and iconic Girona Cathedral - a mix of styles dating from between the 11th and 18th Centuries. The cloister and a part of the tower date from 1038. The single Gothic nave was once three smaller ones - reformed in the 15th century this Gothic nave is the world's widest. Move inside the Girona Cathedral's museum to view the 12th century Tapestry of the Creation and the 10th century Beatus.

Other equally striking historic marvels in Girona include the Church of Sant Feliu built between the 13th and 17th centuries. Talk about mixing it up - the exterior facade is baroque 17th century whilst the interior Recumbent Christ by Master Aloi is 14th century. The nave is Gothic, and an interior tour of Sant Feliu is not to be missed. The distinctive cloister tower of the Sant Pere de Galligants Monastery (now Girona's archeological museum) is a particularly fine example of Catalan Romanesque architecture dating from the 12th century. The Arab baths, despite being so-called, are actually also 12th century Romanesque inspired by the Roman thermae public baths.

Girona Tourist Information Centre, Rambla de la Llibertat, 1 17004 Girona. Tel. 972 226 575.

Girona History & Archaeological Museums, Girona Catalonia Spain

Girona's Archaeology Museum in the Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants sits just north of Girona Cathedral. The building is of interest itself, particularly for its cloister and as example of Catalan Romanesque architecture. Inside you've find a selection of Roman sculptures and a mix of finds from the Girona area from prehistorical to the Middle Ages. (see weblink right for details).

Museum of the History of the Jews Girona, C/Forca, 8 17004 Girona. Tel. (00 34) 972 21 67 61. This fascinating Girona History Museum focuses on Jewish medieval life and community via archaeological and documented material. For more details on the collection held here and the different galleries see the Jewish Museum's webguide right.

Girona City History Museum, Forca 27 17004 Girona. Tel. (00 34) 972 222 229. (weblink right). Housed in what was a 15th century Gothic mansion, Girona's city history museum is where to head for the full history low-down on the city. This museum crams a lot in, exploring Girona's history from the prehistoric period and first recorded settlement during the Neolithic age through Medieval Girona, Dictatorship and the 2nd Republic through to the Spanish Civil War and Dictatorship and into the present. Like Barcelona's Catalunya History Museum on the Port Vell waterfront, Girona's City History Museum pays due attention to the Spanish Civil War and Catalonia's particular role in the struggle against Franco's fascist regime. Recent temporary exhibitions have included displays of photographs by Spanish Civil War photographers like Robert Capa. Checkout the museum's webguide right for details.

Check-in too with Girona Tourist Information Centre on Rambla de la Llibertat to pick up not only a good Girona town map, but also your Tiquet M5 which gives you discounts on Girona Museum entrance fees.