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Girona

Coordinates:41°59′04″N02°49′16″E/ 41.98444°N 2.82111°E/41.98444; 2.82111
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the city, capital of theprovince of Girona.For other uses, seeGirona (disambiguation).

Girona
Municipality
Aerial view
Cathedral
Onyarriver
Flag of Girona
Flag
Coat of arms of Girona
Coat of arms
Map
Location of Girona
Girona is located in Catalonia
Girona
Girona is located in Spain
Girona
Coordinates:41°59′04″N02°49′16″E/ 41.98444°N 2.82111°E/41.98444; 2.82111
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityCatalonia
ProvinceGirona
ComarcaGironès
Government
• MayorLluc Salellas i Vilar (2023) (Guanyem Girona)
Area
[1]
•Municipality39.1 km2(15.1 sq mi)
Elevation
(AMSL)
76 m (249 ft)
Population
(2018)[2]
•Municipality100,266
•Urban
156,423 (2,020)
DemonymsGironí, gironina
Area code+34(E) + 972 (Gi)
Administrative divisions9
Websiteweb.girona.cat

Girona(Catalan:[ʒiˈɾonə];Spanish:Gerona[xeˈɾona]ⓘ) is thecapital cityof theprovince of Gironain theautonomous communityofCatalonia,Spain,at the confluence of theTer,Onyar,Galligants, andGüellrivers. The city had an official population of 103,369 in 2020 but, the population of the Girona–Salturban area is estimated to be about 156,400 (2020).[3]Girona is also capital of thecomarcaof theGironèsand thevegueriaof Girona. Since much of the old quarter of this ancient city has been preserved, Girona is a popular destination for tourists. The city is located 99 km (62 mi) northeast ofBarcelona.

History

[edit]
See also:Jews of Catalonia
Onyar river in Girona, c. 1852

The first historical inhabitants in the region wereIberians;Girona is the ancientGerunda,[4]a city of theAusetani.Later, theRomansbuilt acitadelthere, which was given the name ofGerunda.TheVisigothsruled in Girona until it was conquered by theMoorsin 715.Charlemagnereconquered it in 785 and made it one of the fourteen originalcountiesof Catalonia. It was sacked by the Moors in 827, 842, 845, 935, and 982.Wilfred the Hairyincorporated Girona into theCounty of Barcelonain 878.

In the 11th century,Alfonso II of Aragon and I of Barcelonadeclared Girona a city. The ancient county became aduchywithin thePrincipality of Cataloniain 1351 when KingPeter III of Aragongave the title ofDuketo his first-born son, John. In 1414, KingFerdinand Iin turn gave the title ofPrince of Gironato his first-born son,Alfonso.The title is currently carried by PrincessLeonorofAsturias,the second since the 16th century to do so.

The earliest documented evidence of a Jewish community in Girona dates to about 885.[5]The 12th century saw theJewishcommunity of Girona flourish, having one of the most importantKabbalisticschools in Europe. TheRabbiof Girona,Moshe ben Nahman Gerondi(better known as Nahmanides or Ramban) was appointed Great Rabbi of Catalonia. Centered on theJewish Call(Call Jueu), the Jewish community of Girona came to an end in 1492,[6]when theCatholic Monarchsoutlawed Judaism throughoutSpainand Jews were given the choice of conversion or exile (seeAlhambra Decree). For 400 years before that time, the Jewish cemetery was located beside the road to France, just north of the old city between the mountainMontjuïc,orhill of the Jewsin medieval Catalan, and the river Ter.[5]

Girona has undergone twenty-fivesiegesand been captured seven times.[citation needed]It was besieged by the French royal armies under Charles de Monchy d'Hocquincourt in 1653, underBernardin Gigault de Bellefondsin 1684, and twice in 1694 underAnne Jules de Noailles.During theThird siege of Gironaof thePeninsular War,the city was besieged from May to December 1809 by 35,000 FrenchNapoleonictroops under Vergier,AugereauandGouvion Saint-Cyr.Continuously under heavy bombardment, Girona held out obstinately under the leadership ofÁlvarez de Castrountil disease and famine compelled it to capitulate on 12 December. Girona was the center of theTer departmentduring the French rule, which lasted from 1809 to 1813. The defensivecity wallsof the western side were demolished at the end of the 19th century to allow for the expansion of the city, while the walls of the eastern side remained untouched but abandoned.[citation needed]

In recent years[when?],the missing parts of the city walls on the eastern side of the city have been reconstructed. Called thePasseig de la Murallait now forms a tourist route around the old city.

Geography

[edit]

Girona was founded in a strategic place, in the natural corridor between theEmpordàplain and theCatalan Coastal Depression,therefore connecting by land the northernCosta BravaandFrancewithBarcelonaand other southern populations. This corridor is adefileformed by theTer riverbetween theGavarresmassif and theCatalan Transversal Range.

The Ter river is the most important water course in the region. In Girona it flows through the north of the town, from southwest to northeast. It is in Girona where the Ter meets theOnyar,the second largest river in the area. The Onyar crosses the city from south to north and it has historically conditioned the city's development, as catastrophic floods have periodically affected the town since historic times.[7]

Seismic activity

[edit]

Girona is located in a seismic zone, which means it occasionally hasearthquakesthroughout the year. Most of them are not felt, and some are felt as a minor vibration or light shaking. The strongest earthquake recorded in Girona was the magnitude 6.7 Catalonia 1428 earthquake.

Climate

[edit]

Girona has a humid Mediterranean climate. According to theKöppen climate classification,Girona has ahumid subtropical climate(Cfa) transitioning to aMediterranean climate(Csa), with mild winters and hot summers. In winter, frost occurs frequently (41.3 days per year from November to March), but snowfall is quite rare. Temperatures in winter can drop to below −2 °C (28 °F), especially during days withthermal inversion.Average annual rainfall is usually slightly above 700 mm (28 in). The wettest seasons are autumn (September–November) and spring (April–early June).Thunderstormscan occur throughout the year, more frequently in summer, averaging 23.9 days per year. but usually there still is a significant arid period.[8]This can be seen through the natural vegetation around the city, as drought-tolerant oaks (Quercus ilexand, to a lesser extent,Quercus suberandQuercus pubescens) and pines (Pinus pinaster,Pinus pineaandPinus halepensis) dominate the majority of the plant communities.

Climate data for Girona Airport, 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1973-present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 23.8
(74.8) 		25.5
(77.9) 		29.0
(84.2) 		30.2
(86.4) 		37.3
(99.1) 		43.0
(109.4) 		41.3
(106.3) 		41.2
(106.2) 		37.0
(98.6) 		33.1
(91.6) 		30.0
(86.0) 		22.5
(72.5) 		43.0
(109.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 13.1
(55.6) 		14.1
(57.4) 		16.7
(62.1) 		18.8
(65.8) 		22.4
(72.3) 		26.6
(79.9) 		30.1
(86.2) 		29.8
(85.6) 		26.1
(79.0) 		21.8
(71.2) 		16.6
(61.9) 		13.6
(56.5) 		20.8
(69.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.1
(44.8) 		7.9
(46.2) 		10.4
(50.7) 		12.5
(54.5) 		16.3
(61.3) 		20.4
(68.7) 		23.6
(74.5) 		23.4
(74.1) 		20.1
(68.2) 		16.2
(61.2) 		10.9
(51.6) 		7.8
(46.0) 		14.7
(58.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0) 		1.7
(35.1) 		4.1
(39.4) 		6.2
(43.2) 		10.1
(50.2) 		14.3
(57.7) 		17.1
(62.8) 		17.0
(62.6) 		14.1
(57.4) 		10.5
(50.9) 		5.2
(41.4) 		2.0
(35.6) 		8.6
(47.5)
Record low °C (°F) −13.0
(8.6) 		−8.2
(17.2) 		−5.8
(21.6) 		−3.0
(26.6) 		0.6
(33.1) 		5.1
(41.2) 		8.0
(46.4) 		8.4
(47.1) 		4.6
(40.3) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		−7.0
(19.4) 		−9.4
(15.1) 		−13.0
(8.6)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 62
(2.4) 		51
(2.0) 		50
(2.0) 		67
(2.6) 		71
(2.8) 		60
(2.4) 		32
(1.3) 		46
(1.8) 		70
(2.8) 		88
(3.5) 		70
(2.8) 		56
(2.2) 		728
(28.7)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) 4.9 4.9 5.1 7.1 7.3 5.1 3.2 5.1 6.5 6.4 5.2 4.7 65.8
Average snowy days 0.3 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.7
Averagerelative humidity(%) 75 73 70 69 68 63 59 65 70 75 76 76 71
Mean monthlysunshine hours 147 156 179 194 224 247 285 261 195 167 143 132 2,330
Source:Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[9][10][11]

Main sights

[edit]
See also:Category:Museums in Girona

Girona is a popular destination for tourists and Barcelona day-trippers - the train journey from Barcelona Sants to Girona takes approximately forty minutes on high-speed trains, eighty with express ones and ninety with regional ones. The old town stands on the steep hill of the Caputxins to the east of the river Onyar, while the more modern section stands on the plains to the west. The city has a number ofArt Nouveaubuildings including theFarinera Teixidorby Rafael Masó.

Cathedral

[edit]
Girona cathedral during the annual flower exhibition

The ancient cathedral, which stood on the site of the present one, was used by the Moors as a mosque, and after their final expulsion was either entirely remodelled or rebuilt. Thepresent edificeis one of the most important monuments of the school of the Majorcan architect Jaume Fabre and an excellent example of Catalan Gothic architecture. It is approached in ninety steps. An aisle and chapels surround the choir, which opens by three arches into the nave, of which the pointed stone vault is the widest in Christendom (22 meters). Among its interior decorations is a retable which is the work of the Valencian silversmith Pere Bernec. It is divided into three tiers of statuettes and reliefs, framed in canopied niches of cast and hammered silver. A gold and silver altar-frontal was carried off by the French in 1809. The cathedral contains the tombs ofRamon Berenguerand his wife.

Old fortifications

[edit]

The old fortifications are another popular sight. Historically, these have played a vital role in protecting Girona from invaders for hundreds of years. The city wall of the old town was an important military construction built in Roman times in the 1st century BC. It was thoroughly rebuilt under the reign of Peter III the Ceremonious in the second half of the 14th century. The Roman wall was used as a foundation. At the start of the 16th century, the wall was absorbed into the city. The walled precinct lost its military value. Bit by bit, the wall was degrading, as parts were gradually altered from the inside and the outside. The walls and lookout towers that make up these fortifications are split in two - a small section to the north of the old town and a much larger section to the east and south. It is possible to walk the walls and climb the towers, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Girona and the surrounding countryside.

Sant Feliu

[edit]
The Collegiate Church of Sant Feliu, as seen from the river Onyar

TheCollegiate ChurchofSant Feliuis noteworthy from an architectural point of view. Its style is 14th-century Gothic, the façade dating from the 18th, and it is one of the few Spanish churches that possesses a genuine spire. It contains, besides the sepulchre of its patron and the tomb of the valiant Álvarez, a chapel dedicated to St. Narcissus, who according to tradition was one of the early bishops of the see.[12]

Sant Pere de Galligants

[edit]
Sant Pere de Galligants

TheBenedictinechurch of the monastery ofSant Pere de Galligantsis in the early Romanesque style, dating to about the year 1130, though the monastery dates to about 950. The monastery slightly predates theMonastery of St. Daniel.

Plaça de la Independència

[edit]
The Independence Square monument honors the city's defenders during the sieges of 1808 and 1809.

The Plaça de la Independència is one of the best-known and busiest squares in Girona. Located in the Mercadal district in the city centre, it is also known as Plaça de Sant Agustí, after the former Convent of Sant Agustí. Its name refers to the 1808–1814 War of Spanish Independence, part of the largerPeninsular War,againstNapoleon Bonaparte.

The interest of the square lies in its 19th-century style, despite its being surrounded by identical austere neoclassical buildings with porches dedicated to the defenders of the city of Girona during the1808 and 1809 sieges.

However, the symmetrical proportions of the square correspond more to contemporary interventions than its architectural past. The municipal architect Martí Sureda was the first to conceive an arcaded square with closed and neoclassical loops, and with some buildings having matching aesthetic proportions. The development of the area followed this scheme only in part. The construction of the first theatres in the city transgressed the concept of Martí Sureda. Until the 18th century, what that architect had imagined could not be completed. This part of the city inNoucentismestyle is a romantic and timeless creation that nowadays captivates inhabitants and visitors. Today the area has great vitality because of the spread of cafés and restaurants, including some businesses well known for their history like the Café Royal, CinemaAlbénizandCasa Marieta.[13]

Cases de l'Onyar

[edit]
Houses on the river Onyar

Characteristic of Girona are the picturesque houses overlooking the river Onyar. These were built over many years and give the flavour of a small Mediterranean city. The façanes are painted according to a palette created by Enric Ansesa, James J. Faixó and the architects Fuses and J. Viader.

One of these houses (at Ballesteries 29, Girona) isCasa Masó,the birthplace of the architectRafael Masóand an example ofNoucentismein Girona. Since 2006 it has been the headquarters of theFundació Rafael Masó.The river façade can be recognised by its unique white color.

Jewish heritage

[edit]
A lane in the Jewish Quarter. Girona's Jewish community was lost as a result of the Expulsion.

Today, the historic Jewish quarter orCallhas been restored. In 1492 the Jewish community was forced to choose between conversion and expulsion. After the Jews left, the neighborhood was sealed off and new houses were built over the old ones.[5]When the dictator Francisco Franco died in 1975, interest in the region's cultural history was revived. Some of the old buildings were excavated leading to the discovery of the home ofNahmanides,which was sold to the city in 1987.[14]

A rectangular indentation that once held amezuzahcan be seen on the doorway of an old building on Carrer de Sant Llorenç, Centre Bonastruc ça Porta on Carrer de la Força is the site of a 15th century synagogue. The Center hosts the Girona Museum of Jewish History[15]and the Nahmanides Institute.[5]Excavations also turned up 1,200 old documents, including Talmudic commentary, accounts of domestic life, a description of the ancient synagogue and the names of Girona Jews who converted to Christianity in 1492.[14]

Culture

[edit]
[edit]

TheBarri Velland theGirona Cathedralhave been the set of several films, e.g.The Monkandepisode 10 of season 6ofGame of Thrones.[16]

Sports

[edit]

During the professional cycling season, various non-European pro cyclists have called Girona home, as illustrated in the book[17]byMichael Barry,written during his time with the US Postal Service cycling team. Between races, cyclists do their training rides outside the city, which provides excellent training terrain.[18]

In the Spring of 1997,Marty Jemison,Tyler HamiltonandGeorge Hincapiemoved to Girona as teammates of the US Postal Service Professional Cycling Team. This was the first year that American cyclists started living in Girona and meeting for training rides at the Pont de Pedra. Later, other well-known professional cyclists such asLance Armstrongcame to live in the city.

Football is also widely popular. The local Football club isGirona FC,who were promoted toLa Ligain 2017. In December 2023, they recorded their first ever league victory overFC Barcelonato temporarily reach the top of the table.[19]The club's stadium isEstadi Montilivi.

The city has aroller hockeyteam,GEiEG,one of the most important in Spain, which competes in the main LeagueOK Liga.

Education

[edit]

The city is the home of theJaume Vicens Vives Secondary School,as well as theUniversitat de Girona(University of Girona).

Economy and infrastructure

[edit]

Transport

[edit]
Girona landmarks includeSaint Mary's Cathedral(left) and the City Walls Walkway (right).

Road

[edit]

The town is on theAutopista AP-7and N-II. The city is also the hub of the local road network with routes to the coast and inland towards the Pyrenees.

Buses

[edit]

The city has a comprehensive urban bus service operated by private companies. There are also services to the other towns in the Girona province and long-distance buses.

Rail

[edit]

Girona is served at its newrailway stationto the west of the Old Town. There are conventional trains fromBarcelonatoPortbouand the French border.

Girona is also an important stop on theAVEservices from Paris, Marseille, Toulouse and Figueres to Barcelona, and from Figueres to Barcelona and Madrid.

The journey time to Barcelona is approximately 1 hour 35 minutes on the stopping "Regional" trains, 1 hour and 15 minutes by conventional train ( "Media Distancia" ) or 37 minutes on theAVE.Madrid is reached in 3 h 45 min, also on the AVE.

Airport

[edit]
Main article:Girona–Costa Brava Airport

The town's airport, Girona-Costa Brava, is 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of the town centre. It grew tremendously principally as a result ofRyanairchoosing it as one of their European hubs, but then shrunk again after they relocated most of the flights toBarcelona El Prat.

Girona Airportis approximately a 30-minute bus ride from the bus terminal and train station in Girona city, and an hour fromBarcelonacentre, 92 km (57 mi) to the south. The bus stops in the centre of Barcelona, at theEstació d'Autobusos Barcelona Nord,Barcelona's main bus terminal.

Most low-cost airlines mention "Barcelona" in their descriptions of Girona airport.

Government

[edit]

Results of the elections since 1931

[edit]
See also:List of mayors of Girona
City councelors in the City Council of Girona since 1931
Key to parties
PCR
Other left
LR
Other monarchists
Other right
LR
PSUC
CUP
Guanyem Girona
IC
ICV–EUiA
PSC
ERC
UCD
Junts
TriasxBCN
CiU
Cs
AP
PP
Vox
Election Distribution Mayor GovernmentComposition
1931
11 4 5 3
Miquel Santaló (ERC)(1931-1934) Santaló
ERC
Josep Maria Dalmau (ERC)(1934) Dalmau
ERC
1934
6 1 10 6 1
Francesc Tomàs (Lliga)(1934-1936)
 Tomàs
Lliga
Llorenç Busquets (ERC)(1936) Busquets I
ERC
Joaquim de Camps (ERC)(1936) De Camps
ERC
Expedit Duran (CNT)(1936-1937) Duran
CNT–FAI
Llorenç Busquets (ERC)(1937) Busquets II
ERC
Pere Cerezo (ERC)(1937-1939) Cerezo
ERC
Joan Ballesta (PSUC)(1939) Ballesta
PSUC–CNT–UGT
1939–1979:Francoist dictatorship.
During this interval, no elections were held. 		Directly appointed by theCivil Governor of Girona
1979
4 9 5 7
Joaquim Nadal(PSC)(1979-2002) Nadal I
PSC
1983
1 15 6 3
Nadal II
PSC
1987
14 9 2
Nadal III
PSC
1991
1 13 9 2
Nadal IV
PSC
1995
1 2 14 5 3
Nadal V
PSC
1999
1 2 14 6 2
Nadal VI
PSC
Anna Pagans (PSC)(2002-2011) Pagans I
PSC
2003
2 4 11 5 3
Pagans II
PSC
2007
3 4 10 6 2
Pagans III
PSC
2011
2 3 7 10 3
Carles Puigdemont(CiU)(2011-2016) Puigdemont I
CiU
2015
4 4 4 10 2 1
Puigdemont II
CiU
Albert Ballesta (CiU)(2016) Ballesta
CiU
Marta Madrenas(CiU,JxCat,Junts)(2016-2023) Madrenas I
CiU,JxCat
2019
6 4 6 9 2
Madrenas II
JxCatuntil Sept 2020
Junts–ERCfrom Sept 2020
2023
8 3 8 6 1 1
Lluc Salellas (CUP) Salellas
Guanyem–Junts–ERC

Notable people

[edit]

Twin towns – sister cities

[edit]

Girona istwinnedwith:

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"El municipi en xifres: Girona".Statistical Institute of Catalonia.Retrieved23 November2015.
  2. ^Municipal Register of Spain 2018.National Statistics Institute.
  3. ^"Idescat. El municipi en xifres".idescat.cat.
  4. ^Iñesta, Enric Cabrejas (26 December 2016)."Per què es diu Girona?".Diari de Girona(in Catalan).Retrieved21 January2024.
  5. ^abcdRamon Alberch i Fugueras (2005).Jewry Guide of Girona.Girona, Spain: Certeza and the City Council of Girona. p. 131.ISBN978-8472131859.
  6. ^"Girona | Spain, Map, History, & Facts | Britannica".britannica.18 January 2024.Retrieved21 January2024.
  7. ^Ribas Palom, Anna."Girona i les inundacions"(PDF).Ajuntament de Girona.Retrieved11 March2024.
  8. ^"Climatologia. El Gironès. 1971-2000"(PDF).Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya.Retrieved11 March2024.
  9. ^"Valores climatológicos normales. Girona Aeropuerto".Agencia Estatal de Meteorología.Retrieved4 February2021.
  10. ^"Valores extremos. Girona Aeropuerto".Agencia Estatal de Meteorología.Retrieved4 February2021.
  11. ^"08184: Gerona / Costa Brava (Spain)".ogimet.OGIMET. 21 May 2022.Retrieved23 May2022.
  12. ^Dennis, Jon (14 February 2002)."Catalonia got the cream".Retrieved29 May2016.
  13. ^"Diari de Girona / 20 d'agost del 2000".Archived fromthe originalon 4 November 2014.
  14. ^ab"Catalonia Pays Homage to Nachmanides".Haaretz.Retrieved10 January2024.
  15. ^"The Museum of Jewish History".Patronat Call de Girona.Retrieved18 November2022.
  16. ^ddg, girona | (24 May 2015)."El rodatge de" Joc de Trons "a Girona crea expectació a les xarxes socials".Diari de Girona(in Catalan).Retrieved21 January2024.
  17. ^Barry, Michael (10 April 2005)."Inside the Postal Bus: My Ride with Lance Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Cycling Team".VeloPress – via Amazon.
  18. ^Arthurs-Brennan, Michelle (25 April 2018)."Cycling in Girona: bike riding traveller's guide".Cycling Weekly.
  19. ^"Girona top La Liga after famous win at Barcelona"– via bbc.
  20. ^(currently pending agreement - negotiation started in 2006)
  21. ^"Wakefield's twin towns".Wakefield City Council.Archived fromthe originalon 17 October 2013.Retrieved14 July2013.
  22. ^"Eurotowns – network of medium-sized cities".Eurotowns.
[edit]
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