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.

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.

A bit overhyped in tourist guides but still nice to visit when in Girona. Nice view of the "painted…read morehouses" from the bridge.

Constructed by Gustave Eiffel (of French tower fame), this bridge is a fun way to get from the…read moremodern city to the old - or vice versa. It's a cute photo op, as the scarlet red of the bridge contrasts with the sky and the colored houses that line the canal. It's also not particularly busy, so you can get a photo without other tourists in the background. I found this bridge called the Eiffel bridge over the Internet, but every map in Girona, including Apple maps, calls it by its local name, as seen on this listing. It translates from Catalan into English as "the old fisherman's bridge." I give it four stars, as it's not particularly exceptional, but it's a nice place to cross over into El Call. I wouldn't go out of my way to see it, but Girona is a small enough city that it's impossible to be very far out of the way.

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.

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.

Must be the most beautiful bridge, if you like taking snaps…read more A real tourist trap, make sure you come early, or leave it until later.

Is it crazy to write a review for a bridge? Not sure, but I'm doing it…read more This bridge is amazing. It was originally constructed in medieval times. It is the perfect way to enter the idyllic village of Besalú. Once you step on the bridge and face the stone houses, it's almost like you're almost transported into time. I was half expecting a knight to ride across the bridge or to hear a trumpet fanfare for a king or queen. This is about 45 minutes' drive from Girona. Go here. See it. Step back in time.

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.