Founded in the first century B.C. by the Romans, who called their settlement "Gerundo", Girona is an absolutely echanting medieval city whose cityscape reads like a lesson on Spanish history. Along with Greek and Roman ruins, much of the Old Quarter remains enclosed within the city's original medieval walls, which were built between the 9th and 15th centuries. Don't pass up the opportunity to take a stroll along these walls for unbeatable views of the city and its surroundings.
As for the Old Quarter, it's geographically the heart of the original Roman city and its winding lanes climb up the steep hill of the Capuchins, one of the reasons why this part of town has so many of its characteristic stairs. A must see within the Old Quarter is El Call, the historic Jewish district, which brims with historic charm and is widely recognized as one of Europe's best-preserved medieval nuclei.
Also within Girona's Old Quarter is its 15th-century cathedral, one of the city's top sights, which has the world's largest Gothic nave and conserves the stunning cloister and tower from the Romanesque cathedral it replaced. Other wonderful examples of historic religious architecture include the Convent of Sant Doménech (Gothic), the Church of Sant Pere de Galligants (Romanesque) and the Church of Sant Feliu (Gothic).
Another of Girona's distinguishing characteristics is its "casas colgantes", a row of colorful houses perched precariously along the edge of the Oñar River. Cross any of the bridges spanning the river for the best views and photo opportunities. Beyond the river is where you'll find the newer section of Girona.
Another of Girona's highlights is its location. Midway between the mountains of the Pyrenees and the shores of the Mediterranean, it's a great base for all sorts of excursions- Barcelona, national parks, Pyrenees Mountains, beach towns along the Mediterranean and much more! Another result is its wonderful cuisine; heavily influence by both mountain and sea, the region is known for its creative combinations of ingredients and fantastic restaurants, such as El Bulli, voted best restaurant in the world several times.
Learn Spanish in Girona and discover all the wonderful facets of this historic, one-of-a-kind city. In the meantime, get more information in our Girona Guide
Learn Spanish in Girona
While we don't yet have a program to learn Spanish in Girona, we do have schools in wonderful cities throughout Spain and Latin America. Check out our current list of Spanish-speaking destinations on the following page: