Gerona Travel Information
Nov 5th, 2008 by admin
The city of Girona, capital of the spanish province with the same name (also written as Gerona) is part of Catalonia, one of the 17 autonomous regions that comprise Spain.
Gerona the has a rich, detailed, and dramatic history. The first inhabitants of the area were the Iberians. Then came the Romans who built a fortification there, which was named Gerunda. After having been occupied by a number of cultures, Girona finally fell under control by the Holy Roman Empire. In the 12 th century, the Jewish community flourished in Girona , and a major Kabbalistic school was built. However, the Catholic Kings drove the Jews away from Spain in 1492. Later on, in the 17 th to 18 th century, Girona fell under siege by the French, and it was conquered by Napoleon in 1809. The walls of the city were destroyed in the 19 th century. Today, the city is a rich heritage site full of historic and cultural beauty.
Some of the most interesting places to visit are the cathedral and the Jewish Quarter. The Cathedral is one of Girona ‘s grandest churches, the cathedral was built between the 11 th and 17 th centuries AD. The church’s structure integrates a number of architectural styles that were built at various points in history. The features of the original Roman building are preserved, such as a cloister and tower of Charlemagne. The nave of the church is the widest arched span in the whole world.
The Jewish Quarter, or the Call is the best preserved in all of Catalonia and certainly the most remarkable in Spain. The narrow and winding alleyways and lanes snake around medieval stone buildings that once housed the Jewish community in Girona . The Jews’ influence and teachings were far-reaching throughout Europe.
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