People have been passing through Girona for thousands of years: the Iberians, the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors, and then a tussle back and forth with the entry of Charlemagne in 785 when he made it one of the 14 original counties of Catalonia. Of course, the Moors came crashing back in 793 and it was one siege and sack after another until 1492 when, in addition to expelling the Moors from Spain, the substantial Jewish community of Catalonia was also expelled, although the Jewish quarter of Girona would continue to be called the Jewish quarter. Now, of course, Catalan and Spanish are both spoken and many Catalans would like to sever ties with Spain. This is where we began our exploration of northern Spain.
The old city is a delightful area to wander.
The Cathedral and Cloister were the site of a Roman forum and of a mosque before being dedicated as a cathedral. Indeed, Roman fortifications remain.
The highlight of the Treasury is the 11th Century Tapestry of Creation of couched needlework in wool. Christ Pantocrator (in Eastern iconography) is in the center, surrounded by various themes, including those of the creation and of the seasons.
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The primary purpose of our stop over in Girona was, of course, lunch.
