Discover Girona: history, museums and architecture

City history in museums and collections

Seven museums in Girona present history and art from antiquity to the present day. Activities for all audiences take place throughout the year; the programmes of individual museums may change. The Museum of Jewish History is dedicated to the history of Catalonia's medieval Jewish communities, especially Girona's. Its collection includes unique medieval Hebrew tombstones from the Jewish cemetery of Montjuïc.

The Museum of Cinema, with the Tomàs Mallol Collection, covers a different span of time: from the first moving images of shadow theatre to cinema today. Founded in 1846, the Archaeology Museum is one of the oldest museums in Catalonia. Its finds come especially from excavations in Empúries and Girona itself, and span the period from prehistory to the Middle Ages. Different ways of looking at the past therefore sit side by side here: through communities and their history, through images and film, or through archaeological finds.

Buildings from different periods

Els Banys Àrabs is a unique Romanesque building from the 12th century, inspired by Roman baths. At its centre is a pool covered by a dome. Slender columns support it, with intricately ornamented capitals. The name of the building and its architecture can be distinguished: it is a Romanesque building whose design was inspired by Roman baths.

Sant Pere de Galligants, a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, is also one of Girona's notable historic buildings. The Basilica of Sant Feliu was the city's first cathedral until the 10th century. Together with the fortified structures, these places offer different historical points of reference rather than representing just one period.

Casa Masó can only be visited as part of a guided tour. Groups are limited to a maximum of eight people, and visits take place at agreed times. Advance reservations by phone or email are required. As practical visiting arrangements may change, it is advisable to check them again before your visit.

Guided tours, nature and seasonal events

Guided tours in Girona cover heritage, history and legends, as well as the Jewish quarter, the medieval Jewish influence on the city, and the filming of Game of Thrones. There are also nature tours, food routes and tours adapted for people with reduced mobility. Guided walks are available in and around Girona, and hiking is possible in the Sant Daniel valley. Availability and tour themes may change, so check current dates if you would like to include a guided tour in your plans.

The urban surroundings include rivers that extend into the city fabric, Mediterranean and riverside forests, the Gavarres, the Sant Daniel valley, as well as fields, gardens and farmland. La Devesa is a large park in Girona covering more than 40 hectares. Nature experiences and historical collections are therefore equally possible themes for a stay.

For nine days in May, Girona Temps de Flors transforms the city with artistic, musical, recreational, culinary and tourist offerings. The recurring event has been held since 1954. If you would like to plan your stay around it, check the event dates and programme for that year.

Everyday life and good food in Girona

Mercat del Lleó is Girona's municipal market for fresh food, with 60 stalls. Girona's culinary profile combines traditional and avant-garde cuisine with its own roots and local products from the region. Visiting the market and sampling the cuisine offer another way to experience the city, alongside museums, buildings and nature. As operational details of a market may change, it is worth checking the latest information if particular stalls are important to your plans.

When choosing a hotel in Girona, it may help to decide first what you want to focus on during your trip: would you like to make time for museums and architecture, plan around a seasonal event, or include nature and food experiences? For directions to the cathedral: the nearest public transport stop is L7 Plaza de Sant Domènec, 180 metres away; it is not accessible. Check the information again before travelling if this connection is important to your plans.

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For the broader travel overview: Catalonia.