Welcome...
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Girona & Catalunya...
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)...
  
 
CAPACITY: five people -
2 twin rooms plus
1 single room

*** GUEST REVIEWS ***

Booking & availability

Tel: (00 34) 651 112 796
simonpaulread@gmail.com
gironabedandbreakfast.com
 

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Please find below answers to questions we're often asked. We think we've covered most issues, but please feel free to ask us about anything we might have overlooked.

  
 

Address & directions - How do I obtain your address and directions to the B&B?

Airlines - What airlines fly to Girona?

Airports - Where are the nearest airports?

Alarm clock - Do you provide alarm clocks?

Availability - How do I enquire about room availability?

Bar - Do you have a minibar?

Barcelona - How far are you from Barcelona?

Bathroom - What are the bathroom facilities?

Bed linen - What bed linen do you provide?

Bedrooms - What bedrooms do you have?

Booking - How do I book?

Breakfast - What breakfast do you provide? When is breakfast served? And how much do you charge?

Bus service - What bus services are available?

Capacity - What is the B&B's capacity?

Car - Is a car necessary?

Car parking - What car parking is available?

Car rental - What car hire firms can you recommend?

Central heating - Is the B&B centrally heated?

Check-out time - What is your check-out time on the day of departure?

Check-in time - What is your check-in time for arrivals?

Children - Are children welcome?

Circuit de Catalunya - How do you get to Circuit de Catalunya from Girona?

Coffee - What coffee and tea-making facilities are available?

Costa Brava - What does the Costa Brava have to offer?

Cots - Do you have a cot?

Credit cards - Do you accept credit cards?

Currency - What currencies do you accept?

Dali - How close are you from the Dali museum?

Deposit - Do you require a deposit?

Discounts - What discounts do you offer?

Dollars - Do you accept payment in US dollars?

Elderly - Is the B&B suitable for elderly guests?

E-mail - What is your e-mail address?

Figueres - How far is Figueres?

Flights - What airlines fly into Girona?

France - How close is the French border?

Fridge - Is a fridge available for guests' use?

Games - Are games provided?

Garden - Do you have a garden?

Gaudi - How close are Gaudi's works?

Gerona - What's the difference between "Gerona" and "Girona"?

Girona's Call (medieval Jewish quarter) - How was the Call rediscovered?

Girona cathedral - Is the cathedral worth a visit?

Girona's history - Can you give me a potted history of the town?

Girona's museums - What do the town's museums have to offer?

Golf - Is it a good area for golf?

Hairdryer - Do you have a hairdryer?

Hiking - What is the area like for hiking?

Ironing board - Do you provide an ironing board?

Jazz clubs - Can you recommend any local jazz clubs?

Kitchen - What kitchen facilities are available?

Languages - What languages do you speak? And what is the local language?

Laundry - What laundry services do you provide?

Length of stay - What is your minimum length of stay?

Maps - Do you have some maps of the area?

Meals - What meals do you provide?

Montmelo - How do you get to Circuit de Catalunya from Girona?

Payment methods - What payment methods do you accept?

Pets - Do you allow pets?

Phone number - What is your phone number?

Picasso - Where's the nearest Picasso exhibition?

Pounds - Do you accept payment in Pounds sterling?

Prices - What are your prices?

Public transport - What public transport is available?

Pyrenees - How close are the Pyrenees mountains?

Restaurants - What local restaurants and tapa bars can you recommend?

Room rates - What are your room rates?

Self catering - Are there any self catering facilities?

Shopping - Is Girona good for shopping?

Smoking - Is smoking allowed?

Swimming - Where can we swim?

Tapa bars - What tapa bars can you recommend?

Taxis - Is there a reliable taxi service?

Tea-making - What are your tea-making facilities?

Tennis - Are there any public tennis courts?

Terrace - Do you have a terrace at the B&B?

Time of arrival - What is your check-in time for arrivals?

Towels - What towels are provided?

Trains - What is the train service like?

Vegetarian restaurants - Are there local vegetarian restaurants?

Walking - What is the area like for walking?

Wheel chair access - Does the B&B have wheel chair access?

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Address & directions - How do I obtain your address and directions to the B&B?

Our address and directions will be sent upon confirmation of your booking. In the meantime, to get an overview of Girona and the Costa Brava, you may also find the following maps useful:



Airlines - What airlines fly to Girona?

See - Flights.



Airports - Where are the nearest airports?

We are a 20 minute drive from Girona airport, and a 90 minute drive from Barcelona and Perpignan airports. See also - Flights.



Alarm clock - Do you provide alarm clocks?

Yes. We can also arrange a wake up call if required.



Availability - How do I enquire about room availability?

To enquiry about availability, please phone us on 0783 3996 598 (from the UK) or 44 783 3996 598 (from outside the UK). Alternatively, please complete our booking form.



Bar - Do you have a minibar?

We have an honesty bar in our lounge, which includes a range of chilled wines and cavas, beers and juices.

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Barcelona - How far are you from Barcelona?

We are an hour's drive from Barcelona. We are also a ten minute walk from Girona's train and bus stations, providing regular services to Barcelona.



Bathroom - What are the bathroom facilities?

Your bathroom, which includes a bath with shower, is immediately adjacent to the bedroom. Each party will have exclusive use of their own bathroom.



Bed linen - What bed linen do you provide?

Bed linen includes Egyptian cotton sheets, blankets and bedspreads. Towels are also provided.



Bedrooms - What bedrooms do you have?

We have two twin rooms and one single room and can accommodate a maximum capacity of five people.

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Booking - How do I book?

To book or enquiry about room availability, please phone us on 651 112 796 (from Spain) or (00) 34 651 112 796 (from outside Spain). Alternatively, please complete our booking form.



Breakfast - What breakfast do you provide? When is breakfast served? And how much do you charge?

A buffet breakfast is served between 8.30am and 10 in the dining room or on the terrace, consisting of freshly squeezed orange juice or tomato juice, cereals, fresh bread & croissants, jam, honey & marmalade, ham & cheese, yoghurt, pastries, cake and fresh fruit. The cost of breakfast is included in the room rate.

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Bus service - What bus services are available?

We are a ten minute walk from Girona bus station, which provides regular buses throughout the year to Girona airport (30 minutes), Barcelona (90 minutes), Figueres (60 minutes), Banyoles (30 minutes), Besalu (60 minutes) and a number of coastal resorts (30-90 minutes).



Capacity - What is the B&B's capacity?

We have two twin bedrooms and one single room and can accommodate a maximum capacity of five people.



Car - Is a car necessary?

No. Girona is a small, intimate town, which is best viewed on foot. It is also easy to visit other towns and resorts in the region by public transport. (See bus and train services).

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Car parking - What car parking is available?

We're a two minute walk from a fee-paying car park. There's also a free car park within a fifteen minute walk.



Car rental - What car hire firms can you recommend?

We can recommend a number of local car rental firms, both in downtown Girona and at Girona airport. (We will be happy to provide details on request).



Central heating - Is the B&B centrally heated?

Yes, all rooms have central heating.

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Check-out time - What is your check-out time on the day of departure?

We ask you to check out by 11am on your day of departure. However, if you are not planning to leave town until later in the day, you are welcome to leave your luggage with us for pick-up later. (Prior notice required).



Check-in time - What is your check-in time for arrivals?

Please see time of arrival.



Children - Are children welcome?

Yes, children are very welcome.



Circuit de Catalunya - How do you to Circuit de Catalunya from Girona?

Please see Montmelo.



Coffee - What coffee and tea-making facilities are available?

Drink-making facilities are available to guests, including a range of coffees, teas and hot chocolate. (Please let us know if you have any particular requirements).

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Costa Brava - What does the Costa Brava have to offer?


THE COSTA BRAVA has something for everyone. For beaches and water sports, it has a few lively resorts. But for the most part, modern high-rise building has somehow thankfully bypassed much of the coast, which continues to boast traditional fishing villages and unspoilt, isolated coves. Most beaches enjoy fine, clean sand, and benefit from safe swimming conditions and life guards during the summer.

The Costa Brava begins at Portbou, on the French border, and continues 220km south to Blanes, 60km north of Barcelona. There are 120 official beaches, totalling more than 50km in length - a quarter of the entire coastline. The climate is very pleasant all year round, and much more comfortable in the summer than southern Spain, particularly for northern Europeans. The average summer temperature is 26 degrees, with more than 200 days of sunshine a year. Most of the coast lies within a 30-60 minute drive from Girona, with a number of resorts also accessible by bus.

There follows a brief description of some of the best-known resorts - starting with Sant Feliu, which is quickest to get to from Girona. We then look at the resorts to the south of Sant Feliu, before heading northwards up the coast towards the French border. Sant Feliu de Guixols lies south-east of Girona, just 30 minutes away by car, or 45 minutes by bus. It enjoys a pleasant promenade over-looking a crescent-shaped beach, which is sheltered by the harbour. The restaurants which run parallel to the promenade are particularly recommended, with seasonal fish dishes dependent on last night's catch.


TO THE SOUTH OF SANT FELIU lies Tossa de Mar, known as the "flower of the sea", and believed by many to be the Costa Brava's most attractive resort. Tossa's horseshoe beach lies directly below the walled medieval village which has looked out across the bay for the past 800 years. Beneath the old town, and leading down to the beach, the so-called "Vila Nova" (New Town) features 19th century houses around the parish church, and a warren of lively back-streets of craft shops and restaurants.

Further south, and in complete contrast to Tossa, lies Lloret de Mar, one of the biggest and busiest resorts on the Costa Brava, particularly popular with the British "Club 18-30" crowd. A typical day consists of enjoying the beach during the afternoon, followed by plunging into the crowd of shoppers beseiging the narrow streets for an hour's bargain-hunting in the evening rush hour, before the serious night life begins around midnight. Lloret is about 45 minutes by car from Girona, or an hour by bus.

Further south, Blanes also has a popular beach, although the resort is not quite as busy or lively as Lloret. Lying just 60 km north of Barcelona, it also attracts many day-trippers, particularly during summer weekends. It also has a bus service from Girona.


HEADING NORTH OF SANT FELIU, we come to the beach at Sant Pol, which is a small holiday resort. (It used to be possible to take an attractive coastal walk from Sant Feliu to Sant Pol, but for the past few months (late 2004) the path has been blocked by a landslide).

There is however an attractive, tarmac walk along the coast from Sant Pol via S'Agaro to the pretty beach of Sa Conga, and then via the marina of Port D'Aro on to the resort of Playa D'Aro, whose town planners clearly put a lot of thought into its design and layout. Although the town's shopping district suffers from constant traffic throughout the summer months, the beach itself is separated from this hub-bub by a residential area of surprisingly peaceful back streets. The result is to create a long, wide beach which benefits from a typically relaxed, Mediterranean atmosphere, as well as some excellent tapa bars overlooking the sea front. There are also pleasant views across the bay to Palamos. There is an attractive walk up the coast from Playa d'Aro, which takes in some pretty coves and inlets. (However, just south of Palamos, the path was also blocked towards the end of last year (2004) by a landslide. It will be interesting to see if/when these paths are re-opened. Any news would be appreciated).

Palamos itself is a busy commercial town with high rise hotels overlooking a long promenade and beach.

Beyond Palamos, we come to the pretty resorts of Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc, which are linked by an attractive coastal footpath. The beachfront restaurant at Calella provides idyllic views across the bay, while Llafranc enjoys a pleasant crescent-shaped beach, which ends at a small marina.

The beach at Tamariu enjoys a particularly attractive setting. Seafood restaurants overlook the wide promenade, which forms the starting point for a short but envigorating walk around the headland.

North of Tamariu lies a number of enchanting coves and sparkling turquoise bays - Aiguablava, Fornells, Sa Riera, Aiguafreda and Sa Tuna. These are reached by long, winding roads down to the coast from the hilltop town of Begur - but the drive is well worth the effort.

L'Estartit is a busy, modern resort, which caters for a wide range of watersports. The beach enjoys a very gentle gradient, in contrast to parts of the Costa Brava, which makes for a shallow sea which is particularly well-suited for children. The boat trip from L'Estartit to the Medes Islands makes for a fascinating afternoon. The islands harbour a rich diversity of plant and animal life, and in 1985 were declared Spain's first marine nature reserve. The islands' coral reefs are popular with divers, and can be viewed from glass-bottomed boats in summer.

L'Escala is a major holiday resort, with popular beaches on either side of the town.

Empuries was once a Greek and Roman trading port, and recent excavations have revealed a fascinating insight into the commercial life of the city. The Romans arrived at Empuries in 218 BC, from which their colonisation of Spain began. The Roman city was abandoned in the third century, and was only rediscovered in 1908. The dramatic story of the Greek and Roman occupations is told through exhibits and a slide show at the on-site museum.

Once we reach the beach of Pals, we leave behind for a time the dramatic, rugged cliffs of the Costa Brava, and the coast flattens out until we reach Cadaques further north.

Before Cadaques, we reach Roses, which is the largest resort on this northern stretch of the Costa Brava, lying an hour from Girona by car (or 90 minutes by bus). For most of the year, it enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate along with the rest of the Costa Brava; but in winter, it is frequently subjected to bitter winds rushing down from the mountains.

North of Roses, we reach Cadaques, via the stunning Parc Natural del Cap de Creus, a jagged peninsula where the Pyrenees plunge into the sea. This is a place of untamed beauty and vicious winds, and was the inspiration for much of Dali's work. The pretty, whitewashed houses of Cadaques itself provide a stark contrast to the wild landscape which forms a dramatic backdrop to the resort. It's associations with Dali and avant garde heritage have made it popular with artists and tourists alike. An enjoyable day trip, though its traffic congestion is best avoided in mid-summer.

The most northerly resort on our journey is El Port de la Selva, which nestles immediately below Cap de Creus, providing an attractive sheltered bay enjoying shallow water and a long, sandy beach.

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Cots - Do you have a cot?

Yes, we'd be pleased to provide a cot on request.



Credit cards - Do you accept credit cards?

Unfortunately, we're not currently geared up to accept credit cards - for information on how to pay, please see - payment methods ).



Currency - What currencies do you accept?

Please see payment methods .



Dali - How close are you from the Dali museum?

Please see Figueres .



Deposit - Do you require a deposit?

Please see payment methods .



Discounts - What discounts do you offer?

We offer the following DISCOUNTS -

Please see Our Room Rates... for details).



Dollars - Do you accept payment in US dollars?

Yes. Please see payment methods .



Elderly - Is the B&B suitable for elderly guests?

Yes, elderly guests are welcome. However, unfortunately the B&B is not accessible by wheelchair.



E-mail - What is your e-mail address?

simonpaulread@gmail.com

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Figueres - How far is Figueres?

Figueres is a 30 minute drive north of Girona, or 45 minutes by bus or train. It hosts the mind-boggling Salvador Dali Museum, complete with surreal sculptures and art works. Even the buidling itself is an eye-opener, decorated as it is by Dali's loaves of bread and eggs on each corner. It's the third most popular museum in Spain, beaten in the popularity stakes only by the Guggenheim in Bilbao and Madrid's Prado. The entrance queues can be horrendous, so an early arrival is highly recommended.



Flights - What airlines fly into Girona?

We are within easy reach of Girona, Barcelona and Perpignan airports.


GIRONA AIRPORT is just 20 minutes out of town. There is a reliable taxi service from the airport, as well as car hire from Hertz and Europcar. There is also a direct bus service into Girona central bus station, which is a ten minute walk from the B&B.

Ryanair has direct flights to Girona from -


BARCELONA AIRPORT lies 90 minutes south of Girona by car. EasyJet and British Airways fly to Barcelona from the UK. For flights arriving by early evening, it is also easy to reach Girona from Barcelona airport by train (change at Barcelona Sants). The last train for Girona leaves Sants at about 9pm.

British Airways has direct flights to Barcelona from London Heathrow and Birmingham.

EasyJet has direct flights to Barcelona from -


PERPIGNAN AIRPORT lies just over the French border, an hour and a quarter's drive from Girona. Ryanair has direct flights to Perpignan from London Stansted.

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France - How close is the French border?

We are a 45 minute drive from the French border. There are regular trains from Girona to the French border (change at the border for trains to Paris, and change at Paris for trains to London Waterloo).



Fridge - Is a fridge available for guests' use?

Yes, you are welcome to store drinks in our refrigerated honesty bar.



Games - Are games provided?

Yes, we have a number of board games for guests' enjoyment.



Garden - Do you have a garden?

The B&B does not have a garden - however, our balcony immediately overlooks a pleasant garden courtyard.



Gaudi - How close are Gaudi's works?

Gaudi's works are situated in Barcelona, an hour's train ride from Girona.



Gerona - What's the difference between "Gerona" and "Girona"?

Gerona is the Spanish name for Girona. (Girona is Catalan).

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Girona's Call (medieval Jewish quarter) - How was the Call rediscovered?

For nearly 500 years the Call lay buried, with the legendary medieval Jewish community where the Kabbalah was first written down, all but erased from Girona’s past. The old town was sealed off from above, as new houses and streets were, in successive layers, built over it. Now in an ambitious restoration project, Gironans are digging down through levels of construction and back through centuries to unearth a part of Jewish and Catalan history that began at the start of the ninth century, ended at the close of the fifteenth, and then slowly faded from public memory until it was completely forgotten.

At the heart of the Call is Carrer de Sant Llorenc. More a dark alley than a street, Sant Llorenc has since been turned into a stairway to ease the pedestrian climb, levelling off at the doorway of a massive building. Beyond the door, the gloom is suddenly lifted as one steps into an airy alcove leading onto a bright, sun-splashed patio. There, flowered vines are cascading down from surrounding balconies. Arched recesses break the stone walls, and a profusion of plants line the gleaming granite floor. It is paved with slabs the color of earth except for the centre where white, beige and brown blocks are formed into an enormous Star of David.

Assumpcio Hosta, the young historian who directs the project, tells how the remembering began: "For many years, people who lived in the old town were those who inherited houses. They did not like to live near the ground so they built apartments over the old ones. Through the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, they kept building up. But as the new part of town started to develop, people began moving there, and the old town became a less desirable place. "Then in the 1970s, the life of the city started to change. It became fashionable for rich people to move out of the new section to the hills surrounding the old town. From there, some moved back inside the old town."

One of them was Jose Tarres, a restaurateur, and according to Ms. Hosta, "a kind of poet," who acquired a group of eleventh-century buildings near the cathedral. He discovered in one of them the remains of a medieval yeshiva founded by the renowned philosopher, Talmudist, and Kabbalist Rabbi Moses ben Nachman also known as Nahmanides. Tarres became imbued with the idea that a Jewish Aljama once existed in his city, and he was living in the midst of it. He set the Star of David into the floor of his patio and began talking about his city's glorious Jewish past. "At first, his ideas were met with disbelief," Ms. Hosta notes. "'Why are you now starting to talk about the Jewish heritage that we never heard of before?' people would ask. For while the outside world may have known Girona was once a great centre of Jewish learning and mysticism, the people of Girona knew nothing about this.

"My generation, to give you an example, had been educated during Franco's time," she explains. "The history of Catalonia was not taught. We only learned about the Catholic monarchs, the unification of Spain. As far as we knew, the expulsion of the Jews was something that happened elsewhere: in Seville, Granada, Toledo. We had no idea there was ever a Jewish community here."

Actually, among intellectual circles, knowledge of the Jewish past had never disappeared, but it remained the province of a closed group of scholars. In the mid nineteenth century, a construction company laying the railway line from Barcelona to France found over twenty Jewish tombstones on a site known to this day as Mt. Juic (Mountain of the Jews). But this evidence of a medieval Jewish presence failed to awaken a public consciousness. It was only in the 1970s when the old town started to become a desirable location and people like Mr. Tarres began excavating buildings and opening up streets sealed for centuries that Girona began to shake off its collective amnesia.

Ms. Hosta speculates that when the Jews were expelled in 1492, they blocked off their property and byways hoping to return one day. At the same time, she reasons, the church discouraged Christians from moving into former Jewish homes, and people feared doing so would encourage suspicions they were secret Jews. Thus the Call, unoccupied and sealed off, lay buried under successive layers of construction, under a kind of "Sleeping Beauty" spell for almost 500 years until a process we call "gentrification" brought it to life once again.

It did not take long for public scepticism to give way to curiosity. "Historians and archaeologists in town who had some knowledge of the subject started to write about it, and people began to read about it. Our Jewish heritage soon became a popular idea," Ms. Hosta says. Curiosity led to commitment. In the early 1980's, the City of Girona began reclaiming its long-neglected legacy through a project named "Bonastruc ca Porta" (Nahmanides in the Catalan tongue). Spearheaded by Girona's mayor Joaquim Nadal, a rare combination of historian and politician, this visionary effort aims to restore the Call and establish within its labyrinthic structures a Kabbalah study centre and museum of Catalan Jewish history.

It has been a dual process: acquiring and renovating properties on the one hand and self education on the other. In 1987, the city purchased the building on Carrer de Sant Llorenc (now called Isaac el Cec) along with the adjoining patio (now called the Courtyard of the Rabbis). "No one realized the dimensions of the project at that time," Ms. Hosta says. "We thought we had bought the whole thing. But as we started to learn, we saw we had only a small piece of the property, and so we bought surrounding structures.

"We knew nothing. We had to find out what happened. We turned to rabbis, to Jewish scholars. They came from all over the world, and they let us know what we had." A search of city documents yielded 1200 archival manuscripts written in Hebrew, Catalan, and Latin. Hidden in the binding of one of these old books were 100 Hebrew parchments, intact. "We had a rabbi from Yeshiva University of New York here at that time," Ms. Hosta relates. "He was thrilled. He said, 'You must give us these documents, and we will study them.' They had the knowledge we lacked, so we agreed. They did a computer-study and returned them to us for preservation."

The parchments provided a wellspring of knowledge. Many dealt with items of domestic life. Some were commentaries on the Talmud. Another described one of the three synagogues of Girona -- locating it according to the houses it faced to the north and south. On the basis of such information, the Bonastruc ca Porta project took shape.

Where exactly the synagogue was situated in the collection of acquired buildings is still a mystery. What is known is that these multi-leveled stone structures, turned in on themselves with their unexpected alcoves, arched doorways and Romanesque windows overlooking tranquil gardens and courts, made up a communal centre that contained a butcher shop, hospital, school, and ritual bath as well as synagogue. The surrounding buildings with their maze of blocked-off streets were homes of individual families. But these have been converted into modern apartments and are privately owned. "Of course we would like some day to own these too and to open up the streets that still are blocked," Ms. Hosta says.

If some Gironans were initially incredulous upon hearing about a buried Jewish past in their city, some Jewish visitors were initially skeptical about Girona's sudden interest in a history it had for so long ignored. But the enthusiasm and interest behind the project has put such doubts to rest. Links have been established with the American Sephardic community, the Museum of the Diaspora, and the Israel Embassy. Acre has become Girona's twin city. The government of Israel provides a consultant for the project, and every summer Girona hosts a contingent of young Israeli musicians.

The Bonastruc ca Porta project is not an exercise in uncovering an historical aberration that existed for a while and disappeared. It is viewed from within the context of Catalan history; by reclaiming its Jewish legacy, Girona is reclaiming its own past. At an international congress hosted by the city, a participant discovered the names of those Jews who opted for conversion over exile in 1492, a time when they were 10% of the city's population. These names, in various forms, are still found among contemporary Gironans. "There is interest and pride among the general population not only in the possibility of learning about this forgotten part of their history, but perhaps their own Jewish roots as well," says Mayor Nadal.

In less than two decades, the citizens of this city have shaken off centuries of ignorance and indifference. A passerby points to a rectangular indentation in the doorway of an old building and explains it once held a "mezzuzah." A librarian shows off a facsimile of a fourteenth-century Haggadah from Barcelona and describes with familiarity the conflict between the Jews of southern and northern Spain. "Cordoba was a more materialistic and pragmatic centre. But Girona was mystical; we had the Kabbalah," she says.

Ms. Hosta wonders why it was her city that inspired such heights of mystical thought. "Perhaps because Girona was in the middle, between the French border and Barcelona. It was a network place. Though the Call in Barcelona was larger, Girona's was more important. The school was here."

This generation of Gironans has had to educate itself about its past, and it plans to perpetuate what has been learned. Groups of children from all over Catalonia are regular visitors to the centre. "They are very curious," says Ms. Hosta. "They want to know who the Jews were, why they left, where they are now."

When in 1993, Girona hosted its first Shabbat service in over 500 years, the centre was filled to overflowing as a cantor led the congregation in prayers translated from Hebrew into Spanish. Representatives from an American support group and the Jewish community of Barcelona joined citizens of Girona in this historic event which was followed by an Oneg Shabbat.

Mayor Nadal ponders the mystique of his city. "What is it about Girona, that it should have caused the admiration of Leonard Bernstein, or caused Teddy Kollek, the legendary Mayor of Jerusalem, to make a private pilgrimage? What inspired the brilliant historical studies of Gershom Schollem, what is it that inspires the ecstacy, the emotion of Jews from all over the world when they visit the Call? The result of all these questions has prompted the city to seek once again a memory, a consciousness of history, and to understand an area which until now has lain hidden, forgotten in a corner."

Through its Bonastruc ca Porta project, Girona acknowledges the suffering exile caused half a millenium ago, so pointedly articulated by no other than Nahmanides for whom it is named: "I am the man who has felt the stab of pain. I left behind the table spread for me, I went far from my friends and companions, because the journey is long and full of trials. I, who was a prince among my brothers, live now in an inn for travellers. House and inheritance too I left behind me, and I left my soul and my spirit there with the sons and daughters that I loved, and with the little children I looked after."

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Girona cathedral - Is the cathedral worth a visit?

Definitely! Forming a dramatic centrepiece of the old city, the cathedral is a mighty Gothic structure built on the hillside and approached by a magnificent flight of seventeenth-century Baroque steps. Local legend has it that if a single person sits in Charlemagne's Chair, at the back of the nave, they will remain single; if a couple sit their they will get married. This area has been a place of worship since Roman times, and a Moorish mosque stood on the site before the foundation of the cathedral in 1038. Much of the present building dates from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, but a few earlier parts can still be seen – including the eleventh-century north tower and the Romanesque cloisters with their exquisite sculpted capitals.

The main facade, remodelled in the eighteenth century, bursts with exuberant decoration: faces, bodies, coats of arms, and with saints Peter and Paul flanking the door. Inside, the cathedral is awesome – there are no aisles, just one tremendous single-naved Gothic vault with a span of 22m, the largest Gothic nave in the world. This emphasis on width and height is a feature of Catalan-Gothic with its "hall churches", of which, unsurprisingly, Girona's is the ultimate example. Contemporary sceptics declared the vault to be unsafe, and building only went ahead after an appeal by its designer, Guillermo Bofill, to a panel of architects.

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Girona's history - Can you give me a potted history of the town?

Girona's fascinating history derives from its strategic military importance, standing on a fortress-like hill, high above the confluence of the Onyar and Ter rivers. It was founded by Iberians, the remains of whose walls can still be seen. The Romans named it Gerunda and established it as an important stopping point on the Via Augusta, linking Iberia with Rome. Owing to its strategic importance, it has been fought over in almost every century since its foundation, and, perhaps more than any other place in Catalunya, it retains the distinct flavor of its erstwhile inhabitants. Following the Moorish conquest of Spain, Girona was an Arab town for over three generations, a fact apparent in the maze of narrow streets in the centre, and there was a continuous Jewish presence here for over six hundred years. The intricate former Jewish quarter of houses, shops, and community buildings is now visible again after centuries of neglect.

By the eighteenth century, Girona had been besieged on twenty-one occasions, and in the nineteenth it earned the nickname "Immortal" by surviving five attacks, of which the longest was a seven-month assault by the 35,000-strong Napoleonic forces in 1809. Not surprisingly, all this attention has bequeathed the city a hodge-podge of architectural styles, from Roman classicism to art-nouveau, yet the overall impression is of an overwhelmingly beautiful medieval city, whose attraction is heightened by its river setting, and lovely views of the distant Pyrenees. Considering that Girona's nearby airport serves most of the Costa Brava's resorts, the city is oddly devoid of tourists, which makes browsing around the streets and cool churches doubly enticing.

It's easy to orient oneself in Girona. The skyline is dominated by the Romanesque bell-tower of the cathedral. As you walk across one of the bridges, stop to admire the tall multi-hued row of houses that rise sheer from the river, with the cathedral in its elevated position soaring above in what looks like a faded Italian scene of medieval life. Once in the old quarter you are engulfed in a labyrinth of steep, narrow streets, especially in the atmospheric and sensitively restored Jewish quarter, the Call, one of the best preserved juderías in Europe.

The Call was home to over a thousand Jews until 1492, when, on March 31st, the Catholic Kings Fernando and Isabel pronounced an edict expelling the Jews from Spain, bringing to an end the renowned Girona School of Kabalists, who for centuries managed to preserve and spread the mystical teachings of Judaism in the West. The Isaac el Cec Center on San Llorenç, and the Kabalist School on carrer la Força, are the newly-restored spiritual centres, once attended by Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike. The city of Girona is eager to recoup some of the prestige it once enjoyed as one of the capitals of Jewish thought, and in December of 1998, a multitudinous Januka ceremony presided by a Rabbi from Israel was celebrated here for the first time in 506 years.

The main street in the old town is the arcaded Rambla de la Libertat, with pavement cafés, a couple of modernist buildings, and a steady flow of strollers. In the sloping side-streets leading up to the cathedral you'll chance upon all sorts of curious shops, from antique dealers to arts and crafts shops.

The cathedral has the world's widest Gothic nave, 23m, only surpassed by the 25m-wide Baroque nave of Sant Peter's in Rome. Don't miss the Cloisters, and the Chapter museum, one a number of museums in the town well worth a visit.

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Girona's museums - What do the town's museums have to offer?

A lot! The Museu d'Art is housed on the southeastern side of the cathedral in the restored Episcopal Palace. The early rooms deal with Romanesque art, including some impressive Majestats (wooden images of Christ wrapped in a tunic) taken from the province's churches. Among the manuscripts on display are an eleventh-century copy of Bede's works and an amazing martyrology from the monastery of Poblet. The collection then progresses chronologically as you climb the floors, passing a room of bright fifteenth-century retables (their intricate scenes almost 3D in effect), some splendid Renaixement works – such as a lovely set of sixteenth-century liturgical items – and nineteenth- and twentieth-century Catalan art on the top two floors.

Again within the cathedral complex, the Chapter museum houses the famous 11C tapestry depicting the Creation. Within ten minutes' walk from the cathedral are the Arab baths, Monestir de Sant Pere de Galligants - now site of the Museu Arqueològic, and the Promenade along the Medieval ramparts.

Housed in an eighteenth-century convent, the fascinating Museu d'Història de la Ciutat on Carrer la Força contains the preserved bodies of past inhabitants. As well as providing insights into how Girona developed as a city, which is explained through text, exhibits and photos, there is also a hotch potch of more modern inventions, including old radios from the 1930s, a 1925 Olivetti typewriter, a printing press, cameras, machine tools, engines and a dozen other mechanical and electrical delights.

Of more modern vintage, there is a delightful Cinema Museum just across the river from the old town on Carrer Sèquia.

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Golf - Is it a good area for golf?

Yes! There is a wide variety of excellent courses within a 30 minute drive of Girona -

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Hairdryer - Do you have a hairdryer?

Yes, each bedroom has a hairdryer.



Hiking - What is the area like for hiking?

Please see Walking



Ironing board - Do you provide an ironing board?

Yes, in addition to our washing machine and washing line, you are welcome to use our iron and ironing board.



Jazz clubs - Can you recommend any local jazz clubs?

Yes, Girona has two popular and very reasonably-priced jazz clubs, which have live bands on the weekend. The Sunset Jazz Club is located in a basement next to the river, while the Cafe del Parc is situated in the new town. Both are within a 15 minute walk.



Kitchen - What kitchen facilities are available?

In addition to a kettle and coffee maker, you're welcome to use our microwave oven to make hot drinks. We also have a fridge available for guest use.

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Languages - What languages do you speak? And what is the local language?

We speak English and Spanish. The locals speak Catalan and Spanish. Additionally, English and French are commonly spoken by waiters and shop assistants.



Laundry - What laundry services do you provide?

We're able to provide a basic laundry service given prior notice (charges available on request).



Length of stay - What is your minimum length of stay?

Our minimum length of stay is one night.



Maps - Do you have some maps of the area?


The following give an overview of Girona and the Costa Brava -



Meals - What meals do you provide?

We provide guests with breakfast, which is included in the room rate.

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Montmelo - How do you get to Circuit de Catalunya from Girona?

The Circuit de Catalunya is 45 minutes away by road via the autopista A7.

There's also a regular train service - journey time just over an hour, return fare 10 euros (change at Sant Celoni or Granollers). The apartment itself is a 20 minute walk from the station. The following timetable is valid to December 2007, 7 days a week unless stated otherwise -

TRAINS FROM GIRONA TO MONTMELO



RETURN TRAINS FROM MONTMELO TO GIRONA




Payment methods - What payment methods do you accept?

We´re pleased to accept payment by cheque or bank transfer. (If you have online banking, you can also pay us directly).

Our prices are shown in euros - however, we'd be pleased to quote in pounds or dollars upon request.

For bookings of up to 200 euros, we ask for full payment upon booking confirmation. For bookings of more than 200 euros, we ask for a deposit of 150 euros upon booking confirmation, with the balance payable two months before your visit. (We regret that being a small family-run business, we're unable to make refunds in the event of guest cancellation. We will of course provide a full refund if we have to cancel your booking for any reason).

Precise payment instructions will be provided upon booking confirmation. (It's not possible to pay online via this website, as we prefer to confirm availability by e-mail before asking for payment).



Pets - Do you allow pets?

Unfortunately we don't allow pets.



Phone number - What is your phone number?

From Spain, our number is 651 112 796. From outside Spain, please phone (00) 34 651 112 796.

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Picasso - Where's the nearest Picasso exhibition?

There's a fascinating Picasso museum in Barcelona.



Pounds - Do you accept payment in Pounds sterling?

Yes. Please see payment methods .



Prices - What are your prices?

Please refer to our room rates page



Public transport - What public transport is available?

Girona has excellent all-year round public transport - please see buses and trains for details.



Pyrenees - How close are the Pyrenees mountains?

The Pyrenees are within an hour's drive.

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Restaurants - What local restaurants and tapa bars can you recommend?

Girona is blessed with a wide range of outstanding restaurants and tapa bars, most of which offer excellent value for money. For diners on a budget, an even better deal is usually the menu del dia, which offers a limited-choice menu at lunchtime (1 to 4pm). In the evening, restaurants open at 8.30, with the locals usually starting to arrive from ten o'clock onwards.

Here are a few of our favourites, starting with those located in the old town:

Just over the river from the old town, these restaurants/bars enjoy outdoor seating in the 18th century collonaded Placa de la Independencia; most also have attractive views of the river:

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Room rates - What are your room rates?

Please refer to our room rates page



Self catering - Are there any self catering facilities?

We let Casa Maria's guest rooms on a B&B basis, without self catering facilities. However, if you're looking for self-catering rather than a B&B, you might like to take a look at the self-catering apartment which we also own, located on the other side of the old town.



Shopping - Is Girona good for shopping?

Yes! Girona has more shopping boutiques per person than any other town in Spain. For provisions, Girona's daily food market is close by. There is also a large outdoor market in Devesa park on Saturdays. We are within a few minutes walk of supermarkets, as well as bakers and other specialist stores.

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Smoking - Is smoking allowed?

We allow smoking only on the terrace.



Swimming - Where can we swim?

We are within walking distance of public swimming pools - both indoor and outdoor. (The beaches of the Costa Brava are also safe for swimming).



Tapa bars - What tapa bars can you recommend?

Please see restaurants and tapa bars.



Taxis - Is there a reliable taxi service?

Yes, there is an excellent taxi service from Girona airport, Girona train and bus stations, and various taxi ranks around town. Taxis can usually be called at a few minutes notice by phone (972 203 377).

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Tea-making - What are your tea-making facilities?

Please see coffee and tea-making.



Tennis - Are there any public tennis courts?

Yes, there are tennis courts for hire at Girona sports centre, a 20 minute walk from the B&B.



Terrace - Do you have a terrace at the B&B?

Yes, you are welcome to enjoy our south-facing balcony/terrace, which overlooks a pleasant garden courtyard.



Time of arrival - What is your check-in time for arrivals?

Our normal check-in times are from 5 to 7pm. However, as long as you provide us with prior notice, we are more than happy to make arrangements for earlier or later arrivals.

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Towels - What towels are provided?

Guests are provided with bath and face towels. Beach towels are not provided.



Trains - What is the train service like?

There is a reliable train service from Girona, with a regular service south to Barcelona, and north to Figueres and Portbou on the French border. There is also a less frequent service south to Blanes on the Costa Brava.

Trains to Barcelona depart every half hour or so. The service begins at 6am, with the last returning train leaving Barcelona at about 9pm. Trains stop at two Barcelona stations – Sants, and the more central Passeig de Gracia. There is a variety of services, which differ in terms of the number of stops en route and price. For example, if you travel down to Barcelona on a cheap return ticket, but then actually return to Girona on a dearer service, you will be required to pay the difference to the ticket collector on the train. This could double the cost of the return journey, so if you want to avoid this danger, make sure to check at Barcelona which type of service you are boarding. As a guide, a return ticket on a Regional train costs about 12 euros with a journey time of about 90 minutes. Alternatively, a return ticket for the Talgo commuter service costs about 25 euros, with a time saving of only 10 minutes.

Trains to both Figueres and Portbou depart at roughly half hour intervals.

The RENFE website (Spain's national train company) includes a helpful timetable in English.

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Vegetarian restaurants - Are there local vegetarian restaurants?

Yes, there are one or two vegetarian restaurants we can recommend.



Walking - What is the area like for walking?

Walkers are spoilt for choice:



Wheel chair access - Does the B&B have wheel chair access?

No, we're sorry to say that access is not possible by wheelchair.

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Copyright 2005 Simon Read All Rights Reserved