Day trip ideas for Summer 2019 Kosher Spain Trip.
Girona – Part 2.
Girona River View
Distance from Castle – 35 Km / 35 minutes driving time.
Located just an hour from the more famous big sister Barcelona, Girona is a lively town with rich history and a lively Ramblas where locals and tourists wander through beautiful medieval streets that have artisan and international brands.
Girona city view
Girona is a city of many bridges that provide a different view of this lively city. 11 bridges cross the Onyar river, each with it’s own character. The “many arched’ Pont de Pedra will make you feel you are living in a fairy-tale but the most famous of all is the Pont de Ferro designed by Gustav Eiffel.
Girona Bridges
No doubt, the six centuries of Jewish history permeates the region, but Girona the most. It was here that the Ramban,Rabbi Moshe Ben Nachman lived in appointed Chief Rabbi of Catalonia. By the 12th century, Girona had one of the biggest and more importat Kabbalah Yeshivot in Europe.
The Jewish quarter (El Call) is today one of the top best preserved in Europe and just across from the old city, the Montjuïc “hill of the Jews” hosts the ancient Jewish cemetery.
The Força Vella, a 1st century BCE Roman fortres, is the main artery of the Jewish Quarter, and is currently a buzzing iconic area with criss-crossing cobbled streets.
Begin on Força street in the center of the Jewish Quarter whre the Jewish History Museum (located in an old Synagogue) and the History Museum (Museu d’Historia de Girona) are located. Spot mezuzot and Jewish houses where the crevices for the Mezuzot still remain. The Carrer de Sant Llorenç and Carrer Manuel Cundaro, are windows into the past glory of the Jewish Quarter with narrow walls, stone steps and large stone windows.
As with most European cities there is a main Cathedral – in Girona it is famous for having the widest Gothic nave. To get here, get ready to climb the 96 steps of the Baroque Escalinata.
If you are an art lover, you can get lost in the many museums and galleries. The Cinema museum and Fundació Stämpfli Museu d’Art Contemporani stand out.
My favorite travel activity is “walking with no purpose”. Taking each and every bridge over the Onyar River, soaking up the views and finally making it for a nice cafe con leche in Placa de Catalunya.
Of course, some people do love a bit of shopping – Girona has it all – from small boutiques to markets and name-brands. Discover Kosher Spain this Summer 2019!
Join us this August on a Kosher Spain Vacation! Click on Kosher Summer 2019 Spain travel page to learn more!
