This truly amazing Romanesque cathedral is the centerpiece of this well preserved, living, 10th…read morecentury Catalan village. The first time I came to Barcelona I missed Girona as a day trip and now that I've been here I insist if you're in Catalonia you simply must experience this. A full day maybe two. The massive church is not just Romanesque, there are Gothic and Baroque elements. There are 8 pagan and early Christian sarcophagi (the 4th century), the recumbent Christ dates back to the 14th century by sculptor Aloi de Montbrai. It's just breathtaking. There is an admission fee, I can't remember what it was because a visit here is truly a priceless experience. It is up a steep climb but just take your time, rest a bit, climb on. Do not miss this.

A beautiful church that was once known as Girona's only cathedral up until the 10th century. It's…read morewell known for its' gothic structure, interior artwork, and slim bell tower. The church is named after and dedicated to St. Felix of Girona. I did a walking tour of Girona and the Basilica of Sant Feliu was one of the highlights. It isn't nearly as popular or as crowded as the nearby Girona Cathedral, but it still holds a great significance to the city. I did not get to tour the inside of the church, but the facade is charming enough to warrant a visit even if you don't go inside. If you're able to embark on a guided walking tour of the city, you'll learn a lot about the history of the church. Since Girona is small, most tours include the Basilica of Sant Feliu and you'll be able to walk through most of the downtown area in one day. It's worth a stop and at least a walking tour if you're planning to explore Girona.

I have visited more churches/cathedrals than i can count but this was so unique. Love those huge…read moregothic churches but they are dark inside. This was stunningly and lots of light. The colored rays from the stained glass was breathtaking and like nothing I've even seen. I hear it changes at different times of day. The outside can be seem from miles away due the the size but once right there the details are so interesting. We signed up for guardi excursion and they got us in quicker as the lines are ridiculous. But they limited our time. I would have stayed much longer. Its nearly finished after all these year and one of the reasons I chose Spain as a travel destination. If you are in Barcelona definitely dont miss visiting here. No matter your relationship with religion this is a work of art. Stunning even though crowded. as with most things the pictures just cant do it justice. I feel so blessed to have been able to finally see it in person. I don't know that Spain and Portugal are places we would return but this was on top of our list for Spain. Designed by Antoni Gaudi construction was began in 1882 and not funded by Vatican or government so depends of ticket and donations. Plus construction was slowed by need to acquire adjacent properties that were anxious to sell. crazy it took over 140 yrs. So its a rare mixture of new and old. Be very aware tickets sell our weeks ahead. This was an added excursion with our go ahead tour. If i were to return to Barcelona I'd def visit all the Gaudi locations again.

This was more than I expected it to be. Our tour was amazing! If you can, book a tour. Our guide…read morewas very passionate and knowledgeable about the basilica. Initially, I thought I knew what we were getting into but quickly found out I had no clue. On top of this being an immense building project, it is also filled with symbolism. Everything in the cathedral has a declarative and deliberate purpose, nothing is random. Also, there is a fantastically assembled museum under the church. Don't miss out on this amazing experience. Enjoy!

Ever wish you could travel in a time machine? Walk the 9th century walls of Girona and it might…read morefeel like you've stepped back in time. I've developed a fear of heights in my old age, but that only meant it took me longer. There's no charge (!) for this amazing historic site, you really want to spend a few hours strolling (and climbing). Make sure your phone or camera has a full charge.

Walking around the old city area of Girona was one of the highlights of our Barcelona trip, and…read morewalking on the old city walls was the pinnacle of that experience, both literally and figuratively! The wife and I visited Girona during the off-peak season, and it was nice to be able to stroll around the picturesque old city without running into too many people. Most tourists were hanging out around the shop/restaurant part of the city and around places like Girona Cathedral. Passeig de la Muralla, the old walls, is rated on TripAdvisor as the #1 thing to do in Girona, yet it saw only a fraction of the foot traffic. Which was great for us! Girona's walls were originally constructed by the Romans, with foundations dating to possibly the 1st century BC. Much of the present-day walls were constructed between the 9th to 17th centuries. The walls offered protection from the outside and a sweeping view of the city inside. Parapets interspersed along the walls, accessible via circular stairs, offer even better views still. The walls look out loftily towards old landmarks nearby and the modern city and large park (Parc de la Devesa) behind. The walkaway on top is fairly narrow, so two people have to squeeze past each other. There are several access points to get up onto the walls, but they do require being able to walk up some stairs. The unsupervised, simple and beautiful experience is what makes a visit to Passeig de la Muralla so wonderful. Definitely worth a visit, but shh, don't tell anyone else.

Set at the confluence of two rivers, this stunning collection of ecclesiastical buildings (actually…read morethe three churches of Sant Pere, Sant Miquel and Santa Maria) comprises one of Spain's best preserved monuments from the Visigothic period (6th to 8th Centuries). With their reddish-gold stone walls and tiled roofs, they also make an exceptionally attractive group of buildings, even to those not wowed by their age, history or churches in general. History The history of such a site is, as you might expect, rather complicated, but essentially, there is some evidence that it was settled before the Roman period, with finds of Iberian pottery. It may have been the site of the Roman town of Municipium Flavium, but the evidence is pretty convincing that it was the site of the later Roman town of Ègara. Here, a Christian settlement developed towards the end of the Roman Empire, and continued through the Visigothic period. In the early 5th century, a baptistery and basilica was built on the site, where the church of Santa Maria now stands, alongside other Roman buildings. This was adapted and extended in the later 5th Century to become a cathedral of the Visigothic Bishopric of Ègara. This flourished until the 8th century, when the Visigothic kingdom declined when invaded by the Moors. Alongside the cathedral, some time between the 6th and 8th Centuries, a small square-plan church (now Sant Miquel) was built, using Roman columns in its construction. This was linked to the cathedral and may have been a mausoleum or funerary church. Slightly further to the west, another church was built between the 6th and 8th centuries, now the site of St Peter. This had a graveyard adjacent, and was probably also linked to the cathedral by a covered passageway. The sanctuaries of both Sant Pere and Santa Maria were rebuilt some time around the 6th to 8th centuries, and their naves rebuilt in the late 11th and early 12th centuries in the Romanesque style: Santa Maria was consecrated in 1112. Thereafter, Santa Maria became a priory and Sant Pere the parish church, until it was moved to Sant Esperit church in the centre of Terrassa in the 16th century. Sant Pere The largest of the three churches, Sant Pere's sanctuary dates from some time before the 8th century, with the nave dating from the 12th. On entering, the church appears spacious but dark: opposite on the north wall are rather pale wall paintings from the 14th century, showing scenes of Christ's Passion and the lives of the Apostles and various saints. On the south wall towards the west end is a fine 15th century altarpiece by Jaume Huguet, depicting the Saints Abdo and Senen, saints of Persian origin venerated locally in Catalonia, and the physician saints Damian and Cosme. The most impressive part is the Sanctuary, which has a mosaic floor from the 10th century, as well as an impressive reredos consisting of two rows of blind arcading, with fresco decoration in the Byzantine style, showing angels, the four evangelists and other persons with haloes. In the north chapel is a well preserved 17th century baroque altarpiece, and in the south transept are modern paintings and mosaics dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat. At the west end is an impressive 18th century balcony with an impressive organ. Outside, the church is rather plain, with belfries at both ends. Sant Miquel In many ways the most attractive of the three churches, it is the oldest complete building on the site, dating from some time between the 6th to the 8th centuries. The exterior clearly indicates its internal plan, of a Greek cross imposed on a square, with a polygonal apse. Inside, there is a central cupola supported on narrow arches, in turn supported on eight columns with reused Roman or Visigothic capitals, above a large central baptismal pool. There are also signs of Roman tiles having being used in the building of the walls. The apse is decorated with the remains of wall paintings in a primitive Byzantine style, depicting the Theophany, with the twelve apostles and the prophet Ezekiel. Below the apse is a small three-chambered chapel, dedicated to Sant Celoni. The windows throughout are made of thin plates of quartz stone, one attractively decorated to resemble two rows of Romanesque arches. Santa Maria This is the most complex of the churches, and the most rebuilt. Before entering, look outside the west door on the ground to see the well-preserved remains of the mosaic floor from the 5th century basilica. The exterior is remarkable: the west end has symmetrical stepped blind arcades of narrow arches in the Lombardic style, but the eye is drawn to the extraordinary crossing. This consists of a tower with round-arched openings beneath a pyramidal cap almost a campanile - sitting on top of (and slightly off-centre from) an octagonal crossing tower, which supports the dome beneath. Elsewhere are the small, round arched widows typical of Romanesque

We stopped by to see the Arab baths which are located near the cathedral and Jewish quarters. The…read morearab baths is a romanesque public bathhouse, built in imitation of medieval Muslim baths. They are a significant historical landmark in the city and also well known for being another one of the locations where the Game of Thrones series was filmed. You are able to see them in 20 minutes. There are also explanatory videos in some sections to give you a deeper history on it.

If you like visiting historical sites, the Arab Baths are a must stop for anyone visiting Girona…read more They are located near the cathedral and the well preserved Jewish quarter. The Girona's Arab Baths (Banys Àrabs) were built in 1194, reflecting Roman bath design with Moorish influences. The site includes a distinctive dome, and classic hammam rooms like the frigidarium (cold), tepidarium (warm), and caldarium (hot). The Baths have an interesting and ecumenical history in that they were built by Christians, using a design reflecting Muslim architecture, used by Jews as a mikveh (probably because of their proximity to the Jewish quarter) and later by Capuchin nuns. The site was rediscovered, studied, and opened to the public in the 20th century. The visit will take about 20 minutes of your time and is well worth it.

Gayle and I spent a pleasant few hours in the Village of Peratallada. We came here from Pals,…read morewhich in some ways is more charming. We wandered the many streets, enjoyed a delicious lunch at La Corte, toured the castle in the center of town, and did a little shopping in the central "pedestrian mall". I would tend to agree with another reviewer that coming here in the evening might be a more "magical" experience, as it's cooler and the town probably "lights up" rather nicely. There's also a cultural difference at play, in that some Americans like to eat lunch then shop after that. However, in Spain that's siesta time, with most shops being closed. It's easier to dine and shop in the evening.

Located near the city of Forallac, this cool little town is a must stop. Basically its sort of a…read moregiant outdoor pedestrian mall dotted with tons of eateries and shops. The town itself dates back as far as 1000's when the castle at the center of town was built. From the outside the Castle is an imposing structure with its battlements and its walls. The whole town during medieval times was surrounded by walls and a moat (the moat and most of the walls still stand today. The streets are like a maze and its fun to simply wander about looking at the walls, the plants, and the shops that dot every street. Even the pathways have the ruts from countless centuries of horse and wagon traffic. The name itself is a nod to the rock that was used. Peratallada literary translates to "cut rock". If it looks familiar to you, it perhaps is because the was featured in many scenes of the 1991 Kevin Costner movie 'Robin Hood". Our visit was in the evening and it was simply fantastic. You really felt like you had gone back in time. There are tons of shops, bars and the like to stop at. We spend at least an hour in a courtyard we found drinking Rioja and eating tapas (fried peppers and anchovies were the best!). We would have liked to come back during the day but with so much to do int he area and so little time we were unable to do it. We also did not visit the castle which is now a hotel. If we come back we may consider spending a few days at the hotel as it looks quite nice. Depending on your level of interest, you can spend a few hours here or even a whole day wandering about. However, if you block out say 4 hours you will be well served. There is ample parking and the like as well.

During one of our free days in nearby Begur, we drove over to the very cute village of Pals to look…read morearound. Pals is located on top of a hill overlooking Platja de Pals. Its defining feature it the Torre de les Hores (Tower of the Hours) which can be seen from miles around. We enjoyed walking the cobbled streets, visiting some shops, enjoying the studio of Anna Agustí Hontangas (a well know Catalan Artist), and taking in the surrounding views. We were finished a little before Lunch time, and missed the opportunity to try one of the many dining options here. There's plenty of parking at the edges of the Village, with a relatively easy walk in. It appears the Pals is a popular tourist destination, but even so, it was easy to explore in relative solitude.

First time this area of Spain. Very nice and worthwhile visiting. Beautifull old buildings. Nice…read morecity centre. A very good start to find everything about Dali in the area. Lovely little taverna's and lovely food. Would have loved to stay longer and find out more about the inhabitants and the history.