Visit to Girona, Spain
(18 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Arthur Lerman
Venice, FL
Barcelona Travel Agent Specialist
Arriving in Barcelona, one would instantly get caught up in the city's dynamic energy. This cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region embodies a unique blend of Catalonian heritage and modern urban lifestyle.One remarkable highlight would b...
Arriving in Barcelona, one would instantly get caught up in the city's dynamic energy. This cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region embodies a unique blend of Catalonian heritage and modern urban lifestyle.One remarkable highlight would be visiting the awe-inspiring architectural masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia. Antoni Gaudí's unfinished basilica strikes with its intricate facades and the breathtaking view from its towering spires. Many also say that you can't truly "see" Barcelona until you've soaked in the city views from Park Güell. Another one of Gaudí's creations, this park would captivate with its stunning mosaic work and panoramic views.A major part of experiencing Barcelona would also be discovering its Old Town, which includes the Gothic Quarter and El Raval. Strolling around these winding medieval streets, you'd find a multitude of landmarks - from historic squares to cultural centers, such as the famed Picasso Museum.Barcelona wouldn't be Barcelona without its lively street life and distinct food culture. A unique memory might be joining the locals at La Boqueria market for an array of colorful fresh produce, meats, seafood, and culinary delights. Trying the city’s renowned tapas and a glass of vermouth at a local bar would certainly be a highlight.If seeking relaxation, one could take a sunset stroll along La Barceloneta Beach. Despite its proximity to the city center, this urban beach would give a feeling of a classic seaside retreat.One cultural aspect that would stand out in Barcelona is the distinct Catalonian identity. This is evident in everything, from the local language, Catalan, to regional traditions such as the Sardana dance and Castells, a unique tradition of creating human towers which is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.In terms of memorable moments, watching a flamenco performance at one of the city's famous tablaos, or discovering the vibrant street art scene, could undoubtedly be unforgettable experiences.In essence, a trip to Barcelona would be an exploration of rich history, an immersion into vibrant culture, and a taste of delicious Catalan and Spanish cuisines, all situated between the blue Mediterranean sea and green mountain ranges. It would be exciting, lively, colorful, and full of memories. It's a city where you can feel the pulse of history and the vibrant rhythm of the present making a rich tapestry of experiences.
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Buildings Along the Ter River in Girona
During our 2 month stay in Barcelona, Donna and I decided to explore Girona, a city of about 100,000 people about 100 km northeast of Barcelona. I booked us on the high-speed train, which didn’t even feel like it was moving until we travelled along a highway and it looked like the vehicles were traveling at a snail’s pace. I also booked an Bed and Breakfast for the night, Galeria de Bells.
In Barcelona it was simple to take the subway to the very clean and modern Sants train station because it is on the same subway line we get on near our apartment. When traveling by train, it is a good idea to find the name of the last stop because that is what is listed on the electronic board in the train station. Girona was the next-to-the-last stop, so it did not show up on the board, but there were lots of train employees and security people to ask. We took the train headed to Figueres and got off in Girona.
Our BnB was a 10 minute walk from the station across the river Onyar. The building was built in the early 1800s and retrofitted with plumbing, electrical and an elevator. We were met by our host, Javi (Hah-vee), short for Javier. We dropped off our overnight bags and had a quick lunch of bocadillos (sandwich on a baguette) in a restaurant near the BnB. We lost track of time and realized we had less than 30 minutes to meet up with our guide for the walking tour of Girona at Plaça de Sant Feliu (wherever that would be! Thank goodness for Google Maps!) We had just enough time to quickly walk to meet Julia, our guide. Turns out we were the only two people on the tour, which meant we got a private tour. This is a benefit of traveling in the off-season. Julia was incredibly passionate about Girona, from where her family comes. And she really knew the history of the city. She made it come to life!
The city of Girona was conquered by many armies through the years. The Romans arrived in 77 AD and took over the city that grew at the confluence of the Onyar, Ter, Galligants and Guell rivers. They built a road through it, Via Augusta, that went all the way from the Pyrenees to Cadiz. Truly an amazing feat. We walked a bit of it. Think about this…the road still exists. The engineering expertise and execution is hard to believe, especially given how often our modern roads must be repaired.
I learned that the Catalan language has a lot of French influence because France and Catalunya were once together as the Region of Occitane. Along with French, there are Arab and Jewish influences. You can see history unfold through the architecture. The Jews lived peacefully here together with Christians and Arabs for six hundred years until the Catholics drove them and the Arabs out in 1492. Quite an eventful year.
Donna and I had two reasons to go to Girona. One was to explore a new area by taking an overnight trip from Barcelona on the train. The other was to check out four places my clients were considering for a stay in the city. I know my clients’ goals, interests and physical strengths and limitations so I looked at each one of these places with those thoughts in mind.
We had tickets for the 17:51 (5:51 PM) train to Barcelona. Our BnB host, Javi, allowed us to keep the room keys so we could store our overnight bags in the room for the day. This freed us to roam unencumbered. He also advised us to go to the train station because there was talk about a train strike. We experienced train strikes in Portugal and France, so we were not worried about this. Still, we walked to the station and were assured at the counter our train was scheduled to run.
After a light breakfast of toast made from freshly baked bread, we headed out to walk around the city and scope out four quite different accommodations. The first was the 4-star Hotel Nord 1901. What a lovely hotel! Donna and I went on a tour of the restaurant, the outdoor pool area, which had an infinity pool and saw a “Superior” room. I thought it would be perfect for one of my clients.
We then walked into the heart of the old city to Bellmiral, a BnB (pension) in an ancient building. A staff member gave us a tour. So much character! Unfortunately, the third, Palau dels Alemanys, was not open at the time. This is understandable because staff would likely arrive later in the day. The last accommodation was the Double Tree. We set it up on Google Maps and it was quite far from the center city, but still we were determined to walk there. Along the way, we found, and walked through, Parc de la Devesa, filled with rows of gigantic Plane Trees. It was a sight unlike any I have seen. I decided the hotel was too far outside of the city center to recommend.
We returned to the Plaça de la Independencia and had lunch of risotto at an Italian restaurant. Lunch is from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM in Spain. We lingered after lunch, went back to the BnB and relaxed writing and reading in the dining room until it was time to leave.