Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
10am-6pm Tue-Sat; )
The Casa de les Aigües houses not only displays tracing the history of cinema from the
late-19th-century debut of the Lumiére brothers, but also a parade of hands-on items for in-
dulging in shadow games, optical illusions and the like - it's great for kids. Hours vary,
check the website.
GIRONA'S JEWS
Girona was one of Catalonia's largest Jewish communities, which lived by and large
peacefully alongside their Christian neighbours (in fact, the synagogue was originally
located next door to the cathedral), gaining in prosperity and contributing to fields as
diverse as astronomy and medicine. In its heyday, the Jewish quarter (the Call) was
known as 'the Mother City of Israel'. Little by little, though, and especially with the
later crusades in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Jewish community became a ready
target for racist attacks. The Call - a maze of tiny alleys, surrounded by a stone wall -
went from refuge to ghetto as Jews were gradually confined to their tiny corner of the
town. Things came to a head in 1391, when a mob broke into the ghetto, massacring
40 residents. Since the Jews were still under the king's protection, troops were sent in
and the survivors were confined to the Galligants Tower 'for their own safety' for 17
weeks, only to find their houses and possessions destroyed upon emerging. Many
converted to Christianity in the 15th century, and in 1492 those that remained were
expelled from Spain, ending a story that had been over 1500 years in the telling.
EATING & DRINKING
Girona has an excellent assemblage of old town restaurants. For a beer or coffee on a sunny
terrace, head to Plaça de l'Independència across the river from the old town.
CAFE
+CUB
8am-9pm Mon-
Thu, 8am-midnight Fri, 9am-midnight Sat; )
This übercentral cafe is great at any time of day and distinguished by friendly service, in-
novative tapas - from black pudding with pistachio to salad with black-fig sorbet - fresh
fruit-juice combos, shakes and Girona's own La Moska microbrew. There's a great terrace
overlooking Plaça de Catalunya.
