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Guide to Gerona, Spain
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Gerona Just miles from megalopolis of Barcelona is Gerona, its overlooked sibling with a charm that'll make you blush and fall in love with brick and mortar all over again. Gerona is a maze of attractions that can be missed if the city is not taken at an easy pace, but if you do get the chance to see it up close, we recommend you take it and be prepared for magic to unfold. Gerona has been in existence since before the Middle Ages, and because it's overshadowed by travelers and ignored by touristic publications it has remained undisturbed by popular trends that plague better-known cities. This only added to its appeal for us. Gerona has been recently outfitted with a university in the city's attempt to rejuvenate what was a lackluster part of the country, with only ancient sites to offer. Today Gerona continues down its humble path but with a fresh aire that keeps it going stronger and stronger. It's a perfect balance between the young and the historic and never too proud for its own good; it has its architecture to astound passersby anyhow.
When to go:
Those who know Barcelona are aware of the climate patterns that emerge throughout the year over the area. Given Gerona's proximity Barcelona, you'll notice that nothing much changes over the course of a few dozen miles. Winters are cold and filled with snow, springs and autumns are mostly topped with equally rainy and sunny days, and summers are hot. By August, Gerona seems to have had enough of the heat, and many of its businesses are closed as their operators escape for better conditions. Come in the shoulder months and you'll be greeted by great days if you're lucky and decent ones if clouds don't pass.
Getting there and around:
Almost all travelers that do come to Gerona fly to Barcelona's international airport before driving or taking a bus to the city, while others prefer an international train. If you're flying in, you can rent a vehicle for the trip to Gerona (though you'll find no use for it in the city's compact streets). Most people take a bus; taxis are better for those in need of a large boot (trunk). Walking is our favorite way of getting around Gerona and is most everyone else's preferred mode of transportation. Walking your way from site to site enables you to catch glimpses of the hidden treasures among the city staples, but if you're out on the town late in the evening you can always catch a bus or taxi for a trip back to your hotel.
Attractions:
The city's walls containing Gerona's center are still intact and are a great guide to get some perspective of what lies inside. You can also see the clear contrast from the spread-out complexion of the new town to the close-knit quarters inside the city walls. The city's cathedral is clearly its best feature, with its record-holding gothic nave that measures 23 meters. The cathedral's beauty may lead you to gaze upon its interior and exterior for quite some time, but we're sure you'll be spending hours in the museum nearby. Inside the museum you'll discover some of the greatest items of the Catholic Church in Spain. Among the displays is the Tapestry of Creation, which is a massive canvas that was used to show the way of the Church's fundamental beliefs to the illiterate. Notable museums in Gerona are the: History Museum, Art Museum, and Museum of Cinema.
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