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Posted via email from Rose Condo Girona

Girona Flower Festival continued

This week Girona is the centre of the Flower Festival universe with concerts (mainly outdoors) and art exhibitions as well as most shops having some flowers in their displays which makes it a fun place to walk around for a few hours.
The Cathedral steps are pretty good this year as are the gardens around the Arab Baths and through the patios of the old Jewish quarter (the Call).
The Rambla and even the Onyar river get flower displays but Placa de Independencia is a safe spot to have a cold drink and a "menu" (fixed price lunch) while relaxing before joining the quest for more floral attractions later.

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Posted via email from gironaJ

Girona Flower Festival

Well, another flower festival is here, or better said another "Temps de Flors." Girona looks splendid at this time of year and, excepting the crowds, is a truly delightful place to wander around taking in the small patios, chapels, street installation art and public buildings.
It is the best way to see some of the nicest private gardens and courtyards which are normally out of bounds to the average visitor.
The first weekend is always very busy but after that things calm down and it is easier to get in to the main sights like the Cathedral cloisters and Arab Baths.
For those that want less crowded spots the Cathedral Gardens, Old City walls and the Devesa Park are all good and shady alternatives.
To compensate for all the hard sightseeing there are plenty of open air cafes, restaurants and ice cream parlours to tempt the needy.

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Posted via email from gironaJ

City walls walkway Girona

This walkway was restored over many years by the city council and you can now walk the entire way from Pedret in the north to Placa Catalunya in the centre, a distance of some 3 kms.
It is a really good way to get an overall feel for Girona and it’s most interesting part, the Old Town or “Barri Vell” in Catalan.
The views of the Cathedral and Sant Feliu church (currently being restored) are fabulous as well as many other old and historic buildings which are much easier to see from the height of the walkway than when you are in the narrow streets below.

There are some well shaded gardens along the border of the Cathedral which is an excellent place for a rest as there are parts of this walk which involve climbing stairs or going uphill for some distance. Once you reach the highest point the panorama is well worth the effort with the city in the foreground and then the Pyrenees form the backdrop with France just beyond.
You will also pass above the Senate building and Library of the University of Girona nestled between the walls and the old converted church of La Merce.
If you start at the Pedret end then when you finish in the Placa Catalunya there are plenty of cafes with terraces for a rest and a drink or ice cream before heading off for a closer view of all those narrow streets in the “Barri Vell“.

Labels: Architecture, Barri Vell, Cathedral, Girona, history, Old Town, Sant Feliu, University of Girona, walking