Girona
With a turbulent history that began when the
city was the Roman fortress of Gerunda, Girona
has been occupied and reoccupied throughout
the centuries by different cultures, giving
it the unique and fascinating characteristics
that it has today. The historic, walled city
was founded by the Romans and following the
Moorish conquest, was an Arab town for 200 years.
There was also a prominent Jewish population
there for 600 years. Evidence of this is the
labyrinth of tiny Moorish streets in the town
centre, the lattice of the old Jewish quarter
with its characteristic buildings and shops
and the mix of architectural styles in the town
from classic Roman to modernism. Most of modern
Girona has grown up on the
south banks of the Onyar river which traverses
the city, although the old town is on the north
banks. The stepped and narrow medieval streets
have been excellently preserved and at the centre
of the old city is a magnificent gothic cathedral.
Packed with art galleries, smart boutiques,
fancy restaurants and upmarket bars, the town
is a joy to explore. There are some excellent
museums in the city and sights that include
the church of Sant Feliu, the pastel riverside
houses, the Banys Arabs – the Moorish
baths, the old city walls and the best-preserved
Jewish centre in the whole of western Europe.
Girona is a modern city with international bus
and train stations, an airport, a thriving cultural
scene and a range of activities. Club
de Golf Girona is just outside the
city. Girona’s airport is located 13km
outside the city centre.
To the west of Girona is the satellite town
of Salt with a population of
25,000. It is somewhat less affluent than the
city itself. A large street market takes place
here on Fridays. Just south of Salt is another
town belonging to Girona’s suburbs, Vilablareix,
an industrial town with a population of 3000.
There is an ancient Roman tower in the town.
South of Vilablareix, is the village of Aiguaviva.
In the northwest area of Girones is the town
of Sant Gregori (2000 people),
7km from Girona. Canet d’Adri
is located north of Sant Gregori in agricultural
land near to forested mountain slopes. A community
of 500 people with a football and sports centre,
Canet is an old town with a
Romanesque church. There is a RENFE train station
located in the town. To the west of Canet is
the village of Sant Martí de
Llémena with a population of
400. An old village with the Romanesque churches
of Sant Pere and Santa Cecilia, Sant Martí
is 21km from Girona.
To the north of Girona next to the motorway
are Sarrià de Ter and
the town of Sant Julià de Ramis,
both on the outskirts of Girona. Sant Julià
is a medieval town with a Romanesque sanctuary,
church and castle. The Club de Golf
Girona is located at Sant Julià,
4km north of Girona. It is an 18-hole course
with a range of amenities. East of Sant Julià
is the town of Celrà,
with modern spacious streets and a population
of 2500. A street market is held in Celrà
on Fridays.
The charming village of Madremanya
is located in the east of Girones, 14km from
Girona. It is a medieval village of 200 people
with unique stone houses and pleasant streets.
There is a restaurant and hotel in the village.
Sant Martí Vell, a couple
of kilometres to the north, is another medieval
village with a Gothic church with a Renaissance
façade. There is a horse-riding club
in Sant Martí. Sant Joan de Mollet
is 4km north of Sant Martí with a population
of 400. Further north is the peaceful village
of Bordils (1300 people) with
its Gothic church and the next village is that
of of Cervià de Ter.
The Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria, which
was built in the 11th century, is located here.
The small farming community of Sant
Jordi Desvalls with a population of
600 is east of Cervià and Viladasens
(200 people) is just north of Sant Jordi.
South of Girona on the main roads, Fornells
de la Selva is a quiet agricultural
town with a population of 1300 and a beautiful
Gothic church. There are several shops including
a tobacconist, a pharmacy and a butchers along
with a restaurant. The town has a late Gothic
church. Quart, a small town
of 2000 people is just east of Fornells, 5km
from Girona. Quart is the main ceramics producing
town in Girones, a black type of pottery is
typically produced there. Further south is the
village of Llambilles with
500 inhabitants. On the edge of the Girones
region is the village of Campllong,
a village of 300 people, 15km from Girona. The
village spread out along the road and surrounded
by farmland. There is a small industrial area
in Campllong and several restaurants. The most
southerly municipality in Girones is that of
Llagostera, a town of 5500
that used to be an important cork town.
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