Wednesday 21 October Girona

We took a day trip to Girona today, a very pretty town about 100km north-east of Barcelona. With much of the old quarter of this ancient city having been preserved, Girona is a popular tourist destination. Gary reckons it’s the prettiest Spanish town we’ve been to… so far.

First views of the “Barri Vell” (old town)

Coffee overlooking the river… beautiful floor tiles

Just up the road to the Girona Cathedral with a fabulous saxophone busker whose photo I didn’t get!

Inside the Cathedral. That huge wooden box houses the organ

Outside and heading down to the Arab Baths

The Arab baths… weren’t built by the Arabs, nor were they constructed during Roman times, and were once used by the Jewish community as a mikveh (a specialized ritual bath in Judaism designed for immersion to achieve spiritual purification rather than physical hygiene).

From Google … The Legend of the Girona Flies

According to local folklore, during a 1285 French siege of Girona, invading soldiers attempted to desecrate the tomb of the city’s patron saint, Sant Narcís (Saint Narcissus), inside the Church of Sant Feliu.

Suddenly, a massive swarm of giant, stinging flies emerged from the saint’s tomb. The flies aggressively attacked the French soldiers and their horses, causing a deadly plague and a panicked retreat, effectively saving the city.

Because of this miracle, the fly is a symbol of resilience and the unofficial mascot of Girona.

Statue honouring the footprint of Saint Narcis

From the didactic:

In the 4th century, Christianity was seen by the Roman Empire as a threat. The Emperor Diocletian ordered the last great persecution against Christians, in which Saint Narcis would end up suffering martyrdom, along with that of his deacon Saint Felix. In one of these chases, Saint Narcis fled from his house through the window, but it occurred to him to leave a footprint pointing in the opposite direction, as if he had entered the house and not left it. His deceived the pursuers that checked every corner of the house in order to find the bishop, giving him time to hide far away. Since then, the footprint remained on the sill of that window.

The “Lioness of Girona” (La Lleona) is a famous 12th-century stone sculpture located at the foot of the steps to the Basilica of St Feliu. Local tradition says that kissing or touching the animal’s rear end (el cul de la lleona) ensures you will return to Girona.

Touching her rear end! Bus loads of people queued to do this while we were eating lunch opposite.

Fried artichoke, mozzarella fingers, anchovies and tomato bread

Back on our feet… isn’t she beautiful and very friendly!

Xuxo (pronounced shooshoo) are a local Catalan delicacy

Of course I tried it! This traditional one was filled either gooey Catalan cream (vanilla custard)

The colorful houses of Girona are known as Cases de l’Onyar. These vibrant, stacked buildings line the banks of the Onyar River. Their bright red, yellow, orange, and ochre façades create the city’s most famous and photographed postcard view.(Wiki)

The Eiffel Bridge (known locally as Pont de Les Peixateries Velles or Pont de Ferro) is a bright red, pedestrian-only iron bridge that spans the Onyar. Designed by Gustave Eiffel’s company and completed in 1877, it predates the Paris Eiffel Tower by over a decade. (Wiki)…

Gary reckons it’s not his best work 😁

The Jewish Quarter of Girona, known locally as El Call, is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval Jewish neighborhoods. Located in the historic heart of the old town near the Girona Cathedral, it features a labyrinth of narrow stone streets, hidden courtyards, and staircases dating back to the 12th century (Wiki)

Heading back to the train station we passed this statue, created to memorialise the uprising in 2017

From the didactic:

During the referendum held on 1st October 2017, the citizens of Girona were brutally assaulted by the Spanish security forces white freely and peacefully exercising their right to vote.

This square is intended to be a testimony of admiration and remembrance to the people’s dignified behaviour and courage.