Girona
Recent Articles
The Jewish Quarter
We traveled to Girona specifically to visit its historic Jewish Quarter. Girona was home to one of the most important Jewish communities in medieval Catalonia and became an influential European center of Jewish scholarship and Kabbalah. Known in Catalan as the Call, the Jewish Quarter developed around Carrer de la Força. This central street follows […]
Girona FC
As we walked through the medieval streets of Girona, absorbing as much of the city’s history as we could, an unexpected mural caught our attention. Beneath an underpass, two enormous faces looked out from a wall covered in Girona’s red-and-white colors. We did not know who the men were, but their commanding presence made it […]
The Portal de Sobreportes
As we walked through Girona’s old quarter, two enormous circular towers rose above the narrow cobblestone street. Their height, thickness and close position immediately suggested that this was once more than an ordinary passageway. These towers guarded the Portal de Sobreportes, one of the principal entrances into the historic city. The gateway originated as the […]
The Arab Baths
Hidden among the stone buildings of Girona’s old quarter, the Arab Baths reveal very little from the outside. Only the octagonal lantern rising above the roof suggests that something unusual lies within. The building appears ancient and austere, its weathered walls blending almost seamlessly with the medieval city surrounding it. Despite their name, the baths […]
The Church of Sant Lluc
Walking through the stone-paved streets of Girona’s old quarter, we came upon the Church of Sant Lluc. Its broad façade fills one side of the narrow street, yet its simple design allows it to blend naturally with the surrounding stone buildings. There is little ornamentation beyond the entrance, a small statue set within a niche […]
Studio of Modest Urgell
A bronze sculpture outside this stone building recreates the intimate world of an artist’s studio. Within its small architectural setting are the tools and furnishings associated with creative work, inviting passersby to look more closely. A plaque on the nearby wall explains the reason for its placement: Catalan painter and writer Modest Urgell i Inglada […]
The Eiffel Bridge
As we explored Girona, the bright red iron bridge crossing the Onyar River immediately stood out against the closely grouped buildings lining the water. Its official name is Pont de les Peixateries Velles, or the Bridge of the Old Fishmongers, although it is commonly known as the Eiffel Bridge. The bridge was constructed in 1877 […]
The Boy and Turtle Fountain
While exploring Plaça de la Independència in Girona, we noticed this small and playful fountain beneath the trees. Officially known as the Font del Nen de la Tortuga, it depicts a young boy seated in an unusual position on the back of a sea turtle. Water originally flowed from the turtle’s mouth into the decorative […]
Jewish Cemetery
The medieval Jewish community of Girona maintained its cemetery on Montjuïc, a hillside north of the city. The name Montjuïc is traditionally understood as “Mountain of the Jews”, reflecting the land’s long association with the Jewish burial ground. Jewish tradition requires a separate and permanent place for burial. A cemetery is known in Hebrew as […]
Inside the Cathedral of Saint Mary
Stepping inside the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Girona reveals a space very different from its elaborately decorated Baroque exterior. The façade is filled with statues, columns and carved ornaments, but the interior is dominated by the strength and simplicity of stone. Massive piers rise into pointed arches, ribbed vaults stretch across the ceiling and […]
Cathedral of Saint Mary
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Girona, known in Catalan as the Catedral de Santa Maria de Girona, stands at one of the highest points in the old city. Its monumental position has made it one of Girona’s defining landmarks. Visitors approach its western entrance by climbing ninety broad stone steps, an ascent that gradually […]
Casa Pastors
Standing near Girona Cathedral, Casa Pastors could easily be overlooked among the city’s more imposing medieval landmarks. Its broad stone façade, barred windows and heavy wooden doorway give it the appearance of a restrained civic building. Yet the information panel beside the entrance revealed that this seemingly simple structure contains layers of Girona’s history reaching […]
