Exploring Catalunya: Girona & Besalù

Blogtrotters
25 gen 2018
Tempo di lettura: 3 min

Sometimes you just need a break from the city and when you live in Barcelona the opportunities are endless, Catalunya is full of small cities or villages that are definitely worth a visit.

After the camping trip to Siurana, Giulia opted for a more urban road trip to Girona with a short break in Besalù on the way back.

Girona is ancient Roman city located in the north of Catalunya, and walking around its street, you’ll have the feeling of going back in time and find yourself back in Middle Age.

Here are the best city’s 6 landmarks and some tips on how to organize your tour.

The Força Vella and the Cathedral

If you’re staying in the city centre, the best thing is to start your tour from a walk along the Walls. On the way up to the walls, you’ll find the Força Vella, a Roman fortress where the city’s Cathedral is located. It’s worth to stop by, take a couple of pictures and admire the variety of styles, from Romanesque to the emblematic Gothic nave.

2. The Walls

Going up from the Cathedral you’ll find yourself on the Walls, which is one of the longest in Europe. You’ll enjoy a fantastic walk and the various towers will offer you great views over the city and the surrounding areas. It was one of the coldest and shortest day of the year and we also had the chance to see a very subtle sunset at 4.30 pm :)

3. La Rambla de la Llibertat

Walking down the Walls you’ll arrive to the city’s historical centre. The best thing to do is getting lost in its small streets and enjoy the lively city’s vibe.

Definitely worth a visit is La Rambla de la Llibertat, a long street along the river Onyar which represents the main commercial and entertainment centre of Girona.

4. The Eiffel Bridge

Walking along la Rambla you’ll meet one of the city’s most iconic bridge, the so-called Eiffel Bridge, that was built by Gustave Eiffel just before the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Crossing this bridge is like entering a big red tunnel where you can play with colours, shades and shapes.

5. The Houses on the Onyar river

Following the path along the river, you’ll find many bridges, more precisely 11. Make sure you cross the Sant Augusti Bridge, from where you’ll be able to admire the colorful façades of the houses overlooking the Onyar, which provide the most emblematic image of the city. The most famous one is Casa Maso, family home of architect Rafael Masó and open to the public. In a sunny day the colours of the houses make the city even more lively and it’s great to admire their reflection in the water.

6. The Park

If you cross the Onyar river from the city and walk right, you'll find yourself surrounded by trees and leaves in Park de la Devesa, the largest urban green space of Catalunya. We were lucky enough to be there in the middle of autumn, so that we could enjoy these amazing colours.