Category Archives: Girona Travel

Only in Costa Brava provides Girona travel tips and advice

Girona lies at the confluence of two rivers, the River Ter to the west, and the River Onyar, which divides the main part of the city. East of the River Onyar is Barri Vell, or the Old Town. Barri Vell’s river front is flanked by three and four story, brightly painted buildings, which feature prominently in traveler’s photos.

On the west bank of the River Onyar is the more commercial City Center, and spreading south from there is the City Center Migdia. West of the City Center is the large Parc de la Devesa, which hosts a large public market Tuesday and Saturday mornings.

Most of the Costa Brava travel and tourist sites focus on the medieval parts of town in Barri Vell. The River Onyar offers a half dozen unique bridges to cross, allowing travelers to wander in and out of Barri Vell, past museums, restaurants, bars, and cafes, with plenty of shopping as well. Most notable of the bridges are the old stone bridge, along with a red bridge that looks a little like a horizontal version of the Eiffel Tower. And, that’s because it Mr. Eiffel designed it himself.

Overlooking the entire city is the Girona Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria, which offers Romanesque and Baroque architecture. Just below it is the Basilica de Sant Feliu, and a statue of a lion that you might see tourists and children kissing, for good luck. Just across the bridge from the Basilica is the Plaça de la Independència, filled with cafes and restaurants set under historic porticos.

And, with so much food and wine to drink during a culinary tour of the Costa Brava, Girona offers a perfect mix of city life and nature, with plenty of biking and walking tours spreading out from the city center. The Girona travel office offers maps of walking trails.