Girona Local Customs

La devesa is like catalan calls to their forest in the lower new city that cross along the city.. its a relaxed place and where its planted all the recreation attractions for the local festivities in November

Girona is located in northern Catalonia, just 60kms away from the french border.. if visit barcelona without speaking catalan is easy and doesnt entail a problem, Girona is quite different. Expect that everybody talk to you in catalan as a first speech in restaurants, bars or in the streets because the catalan roots are so so deep here.. more even than in Barcelona

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One of the most important tip in Girona is their Jewish neighbourhood, the hugest in Catalonia, where a comunity of 300 people lived during 600 years
Nowadays the quarter offer a great breakaway for visitors who join cultural heritage tourist in Girona and beaches attractive towns in costa Brava beaches

One of the 3 rivers that cross Girona, maybe this one so beautiful than others, with balcony over the river (full of fishes)
Some bridges cross the river where you can take gorgeous photos before you enter in a narrow and cool street visiting the jewish quarter

Santa Narcis or Saint Narcissus is the Patron Saint of Girona. Back in 1285 a siege involving French troops took place near the Church in Girona where the would be invaders entered the Church. Opening the tomb of the Saint they unwittingly released a plague of flies which poisoned the soldiers and their horses causing them to flee and abondon the attack on Girona. A free festival honouring Santa Narcis still takes place today featuring many cultural events culminating in people running through the narrow streets with fireworks. The festival is held in Placa del Vi and its surrounding streets during 29th. October to 3rd. November. My visit was one week before but Moira my travel companion had seen it during her last visit.

Once upon a time, there was a witch in Girona. Well, probably there was more than one, but the most famous was a very, very bad witch. She enjoyed throwing stones at people who attended the processions around the Cathedral.

On the day of Corpus Christi, when she was about to throw a stone, a mysterious voice thundered out across the town saying: “Throw stones, throw stones and stone you will become!” and she became a gargoyle on the Cathedral.

You can see her from the Gardens of "la Francesa", on the back of the Cathedral.

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"No marxaràs de Girona sense besar el cul de la lleona"
(Translation: You should not leave Girona without kissing the lioness' bottom)

Why???

They say that if you kiss it (others say it's enough to pat it) you will be so lucky that you will never leave Girona, or you'll return soon.

It seems the lioness (even it looks as a male lion, tradition says it's female, probably just to help the rhyme) was the sign post of a medieval tavern. In fact no one really knows, but it's a funny tradition.

You cannot miss it, next to the bridge to the old town.

The Girona flower festival "Girona, Temps de Flors" is one of the most important events in the city. This yearly event, held in the month of May, allows the town’s citizens, and the numerous visitors which Girona receives over these days, to see areas which are closed during the rest of the year (because they belong to private owners or because no activity takes place there) decorated with all kinds of flowers and plants.

It's truly beautiful. If you happen to be in the area by mid-May, you can't miss it.