The Pickett's Barcelona Experience - The Romance of Girona

As the last full day of the tour approached, it is was easy to look back at the week with the Picketts and say that the time had certainly been well spent! Having seen Barcelona, Tarragona, the Costa Brava and Dali's museum, the last day was reserved for the city that always ranks as one of Spain's premier quality-of-life cities: Girona. Maybe it's the surrounding farmlands, or the proximity of the Pyrenees, or the 4 rivers calming influence, but Girona is one of those cities that just feels like a medieval city. From the moment you cross over the bridge over the Onyar river and into the Lionesses' square, standing at the feet of the Sant Feliu church, with the profile of the Cathedral rising over head, it's like you have stepped back into a simpler, more relaxed and rustic time.

As we arrived at the same time as two large tour groups, we decided to take an alternate route through the city, so as not to have to fight the crowds the whole time. First up was the 12th-century Romanesque Sant Pere de Galligants church. As we crossed over the dammed Galligants river and back into the original walled section of the city, we saw the passeig, the old defensive walls and from there you can understand why the French once had such a difficult time taking the city.

A short winding walk up the cobbled streets led us to the Arab Baths, a misnomer as the Moors whose construction was copied by the people of Girona in the 12th century had long since been expelled. From there we headed into the church of Sant Feliu, and soaked up the legend and history of the church and it's patron saint. 

                                                 

A quick stop for coffee and we were back, climbing up to the Cathedral itself, the widest single nave church in Europe boasting some spectacular chapels and the treasury. The path back down through the town started at the top of the walls, with a spectacular panorama and then through the gardens and narrow stone streets where you could find the balconies with hanging plants, a cafe with 3 tables taking up the available space at a conjunction of streets, everything you would imagine of an old European city in its romance and vibrancy. 

For more information or for assistance planning your private guided tour in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-013.