What makes the city of Girona so special? What are its attractions and why does it generate so much interest among Catalan visitors and others from the rest of the world? In this Inspira’t post we’d like to highlight the characteristic features of the provincial capital (which, by the way, has the same name) and the unique features that make it a very special city. You’ll notice that the number of anecdotes is disproportionate to the 100,000 inhabitants who live here!
First of all, did you know that four rivers flow through the capital of Girona? The Ter, the Onyar, the Güell and the Galligants. The first of them is the largest and the one with the greatest volume of water. The Onyar is perhaps the most photogenic of them all, as it flows through the city centre and creates a perfect ensemble with the houses on its banks. The Güell and the Galligants are gentle brooks on the outskirts of the city that converge with the others.
Did you know that one of the bridges that crosses the Onyar was designed by Gustave Eiffel? The architect who designed the Eiffel Tower also worked in Girona! It’s an ideal spot for taking a photo and you can also see the cathedral from here.
The current appearance of Girona Cathedral is due to the different influences it has undergone over the centuries. There was most likely a Visigothic church on the site and then a pre-Romanesque one. It also has the widest Gothic nave in the world and almost the widest in any style, second only to Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
The Via Augusta, the longest Roman road in Hispania, divided Girona along Carrer de la Força (Força Street). This was one of the most important thoroughfares for trade between the towns, provinces and ports around the Mediterranean.
Girona’s Old Quarter is surrounded by a Roman wall, original pieces of which date back to 80 BC and 70 BC still remain. The Carolingians later renovated it in the 9th century. There are four places where you can climb onto it, and you can then walk a long way along it and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city!
Girona has been selected as a location by film companies on several occasions. The most recent one to come here was HBO, which chose Girona as the setting for some of the scenes of the hit series Game of Thrones. A few years ago a significant part of the well-known film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer was also shot in Girona.
One final anecdote. Did you know that Lance Armstrong lived in Girona for over five years? This quintessential world cycling star during the first decade of the 21st century (who later became the subject of controversy) lived in Girona for a number of years. Among other factors, this contributed to the city becoming a global cycling destination and a home to more than 100 professional cyclists.
And, of course, we mustn’t forget gastronomy. El Celler de Can Roca has twice been named the best restaurant in the world, according to the ranking of “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants”, and it has boasted three Michelin stars since 2009. This restaurant is run by three brothers with strong roots in Girona who have served as the city’s ambassadors around the world for many years. However, you should bear in mind that to book a table there’s a waiting list of over a year!
INSPIRA’T blog presents you all the different possibilities Girona has to offer! In this particular case, we focused the analysis on the city of Girona, but HEY! WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER!
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See you very soon,
INSPIRA’T