GIRONA: Start your full day trip from Barcelona on a comfortable bus with guide on board. We take you to visit one of the most beautiful cities in Catalonia: Girona. This city has a medieval area with one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. Also it has been the stage for some locations of the sixth season of the HBO hit series Game of Thrones.

We find the origins of the city of Girona in the roman period, when the settlement was known as Gerunda, and was located in the Via Augusta. From that time we only preserve part of the city walls. Girona played an important role during the Carolingian period, because was part of the area known as Marca Hispanica, which was a military buffer zone that worked as a defensive barrier between Al-Andalus and the Carolingian Empire. During the XIII century the Jewish community of Girona was at his peak, that is the reason why this city has such an important Jewish quarter.

When we arrive to Girona we will do a two hours guided tour in the city center. The way includes almost all the highlights of the old city (the entrance fee of the monuments is not included). When we finish the guided tour, you will be given one hour of free time to visit de city by yourself.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Cathedral: During the Muslim period, 715-785, the building worked as a mosque. This Gothic church has the second biggest nave in the world, with 22.98m width, only after Saint Peter Basilica in the Vatican, with 25m width. The Cathedral is located in the middle of the old city and in the highest part.
• Sant Feliu Church: This was the main temple of the city until the construction of the Cathedral. The church is dedicated to Sant Feliu, who was a martyr died during the Christian persecution promoted by the roman emperor Diocletian. Inside the church there is the tomb of saint Narcissus.
• Sant Pere de Galligants Monastery: Built in Romanesque style actually has the archaeological museum of Girona.
• Jewish quarter: Both Jewish quarters from Girona and Besalú are the best preserved in Europe.
• Arabic Baths: This structure is known under the name of Arabic bath because its architecture has the clear influence from the Muslim architecture.
• The City Walls: From the French gardens we can start the way through the ancient city walls. From there we have great panoramic views of the old city.

GIRONA AND GAME OF THRONES

Some parts of the old city of Girona have been chosen as a locations for the Game of Thrones sixth season. Specifically, Girona was turned into Braavos, King’s Landing and the Citadel of the Oldtown.

In the narrow streets of the Jewish quarter, the Arabic Baths and the back of the Cathedral were filmed some scenes recreating Braavos with Arya as a main character. The Cathedral stairs were transformed into the Great Sept of Baelor in King’s Landing, and were filmed some important scenes such as the shame way of the queen Margaery and the entrance of Jaime Lannister on his horse. Finally, in the last chapter of the season, we see how the church of the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants is transformed into the Citadel Library, where Samwell Tarly goes to became maestre.

MONTSERRAT PM:

Montserrat is a rocky mountain located 50 km to the southwest of Barcelona. It is considered the most significant and important mountain of Catalonia. The etymology of Montserrat comes from Catalan Mont (mountain) and serrat (serrated). The mountain receives its name for its peculiar morphology. In 1987 Montserrat was declared a Natural Park to ensure its conservation. The highest peak is called Sant Jeroni (Saint Jerome) and stands at 1,236 meters above sea level.

The importance of this mountain is due to the legend of the miraculous appearance of the Madonna and Child in one of the caves. This cave received the name Santa Cova (The Saint Cave). To this day the wood carving of the Madonna and Child are kept in the Church of the monastery and it is possible to visit it. This image of the Madonna is popularly known as La Moreneta (The Black Madonna) for its dark color. The color is the result of a reaction caused by varnish. La Moreneta´s holiday is on April 27^th.

Due to the legend of the Madonna, the mountain has been linked with spirituality.  Besides the main monastery of Santa María de Montserrat, there is a great number of small churches and chapels, some of them abandoned. The main monastery stands at 720 meters above sea level. Nowadays there is a community of 80 monks that live there and follow the rule of Saint Benedict.

During the first part of the tour you will enjoy an introduction to the history of the monastery. Once the guided tour has ended, you will have free time to enjoy de fabulous land scape by yourself, to visit the local food market, to visit de audiovisual exhibition and to taste some typical liqueurs.