Girona Museums
Most of Girona’s museums are located in Girona’s Old Quarter so within easy walking distance of each other. Check the individual websites for opening hours which do change, depending on the time of year. The times shown below are a guide. All have an entry fee but are free on the first Sunday of every month.
Museum of the History of Jews (Museu d’ Historia dels Jueus). Carrer de la Forca, 8. Explore the history of the Jews who lived in Girona from its early formation until their forced expulsion in the late !400′s. It has some interesting inscribed tombstones and is situated within the old Jewish quarter or Call as it was called, where many buildings have now been restored. Opening times: From May to October 10am-8pm. From November to April 10am-6pm. Sundays and Holidays 10am-3pm
Girona Museum of Art (Museu d’Art). Palau Episcopal, Pujada de la Catedral, 12. Gironas’ museum of Art has a valuable collection of Medieval and Renaissance art. Opening times: Closed on Mondays, 1st and 6th Jan. and 25th, 26th Dec. From March to September 10am-7pm. From October to February 10am-6pm. Sundays and Holidays 10am-2pm
History of Girona City Museum (Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat). Carrer de la Forca, 27. A good look at the history of Girona from prehistoric times to the present. Opening times: Closed on Mondays, 1st and 6th January, 25th and 26th December. Weekdays 10am-2pm and 5pm-7pm. Sundays and bank holidays 10am-2pm
Museum of Cinema (Museu del Cinema, Tomas Mallol collection).1 Sequia St. Opening times: Closed on Mondays. May 1st to September 30th, Tuesday to Sunday 10am-8pm. 1st October to 30th April, 10am to 8pm, Sundays 11am-3pm
Offering a journey through the origins and early days of cinema. Not in the old town but looking out onto the Placa Susana, just next to Placa Constitucio. I went with my two kids thinking that this subject lends itself to a lot of interactive-type exhibits which in fairness there are a few but I felt it could have been better.
It’s all laid out chronologically so you have to start from the 3rd floor, with examples of Chinese shadow theatres and then work your way down to the ground floor for the more modern items. Go past numerous (1,500 objects) cinematic contraptions, cameras, projectors and assorted paraphernalia. A real aladdin’s cave, all behind glass. There’s a gift shop on the ground floor even for non-museum visitors, and a small exhibition space which is usually free.
Girona Cathedral Museum (Museu de la Catedral). Placa de la Catedral. It has two important pieces, the Tapestry of Creation (12th C.) an embroidered cloth with scenes from Genesis, and the Beatus an illuminated volume from 975 A.D. The Cathedral itself is worthy of a visit, dominating the Girona skyline.
Archeological Museum (Museu d Arqueologia de Catalunya). Shows collections from Prehistory to the Classic ages. Opening times: Closed on Mondays. July to September, Tuesday to Saturday 10am-8pm. October to February, Tuesday to Saturday 10am-2pm and 4pm-6pm. March to June, Tuesday to Saturday 10am-2pm and 4pm-7pm. Sundays and Holidays 10am-2pm.
Arab baths (Banys Arabs). Built in the12th C. in a Romanesque style with a hot room, steam room, a large cold bath area with a rustic cylindrical vault and a central Cupola supported by graceful columns. Restored and re-opened in 1929 the five rooms that can be visited are: Apoditeri (changing rooms), Frigidari (cold room), Tepidari (tibia room), Caldari (hot room), and the Forn (oven and boiler). www.banysarabs.org
Opening times: April to September, Monday to Saturday 10am-7pm, Sundays and Holidays 10am-2pm. October to March, Monday to Saturday 10am-2pm, Sundays and Holidays 10am-2pm. Closed Jan.1st, 6th, Easter Sunday, Dec.25th/26th
Monestir de Sant Pere Galligants (Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants). Opening Times: From 1st June to 30th September. Weekdays 10.30am-1.30pm and 4pm-7pm, closed on Mondays, Sundays and bank holidays 10am-2pm. From 1st October to 31st May. Weekdays 10.00am-2pm and 4pm-6pm, Sundays 10am-2pm.
Other places of interest in Girona
Centre Cultural la Merce. Pujada de la Merce, 12. Open Mon-Fri 9am to 9pm. A charming old building which used to be a convent in Girona’s Old Quarter, up behind Girona’s town hall (ajuntament). They run artistic workshops, drawing, sculpture and painting courses for adults and children, art exhibitions and other cultural and music programmes.
Casa de Cultura de Girona. Placa de l’hospital, 6. Facing the old St. Caterina hospital, this old building has been transformed into a modern venue for music and cultural events. It has a programme of classical music, piano recitals all at low prices. Its small halls on the ground and upper floor host different exhibitions, normally free.
Sala Girona de la Fundacio ‘la Caixa’, Sequia,5. The la Caixa is a local savings bank which sponsors various cultural events, exhibits and social projects throughout the year in Girona.
Parks and green spaces in Girona
Devesa park. Parc de la Devesa is by far the largest green area in Girona with about 2,500 mature Plane trees. One side borders the river Ter which is also a haven for birdlife. It’s also home to a large outdoor market, every Tuesday and Saturday. The park is popular with dog walkers and joggers.
Inside the park you’ll find a sports centre that has a large outdoor swimming pool, open June to September. It includes a smaller kids pool, a large lawn area with some shade and free sunbeds, a small kiosk and even a library/activity area which they create each weekday afternoon for kids. No better place to go on a hot summers day. At one end of the centre you’ll also find some tennis and padel courts.
Inside Devesa park there’s also a smaller, partly-moated park area (opening hours apply) called Jardins de la Devesa with more varied plants, shrubs and trees with a kids play area, a pretty fountain adorned with hanging greenery, some statues and even a couple of caged peacocks. Other park areas in Girona are much smaller in relation.
Parc Migdia. A pleasant municipal park with planted areas and green spaces amidst a lot of new apartment buildings surrounding it. There’s also an artificial lake area with a nice cafe next to it where you can have a drink, snack or eat lunch with plenty of outdoor seating. We go here often as its a good open space for kids on bikes or rollerblades. Next to the park is an up-market gym called The Wellness Center. One side of the park faces one of the main roads into and out of Girona, C/Barcelona and the other side faces C/ Migdia.
Parc Central is a long, wide open space that runs parallel with Girona bus/train station and has a kids playground. It’s mainly a mix of hard standing and grass areas. It underwent a big renewal a few years ago and looks much neater and welcoming than its old version.
The following parks are dotted around the old town area, and more like pockets of greenery than full-blown parks. That makes it nice to discover them as you stroll around this part of Girona.
Jardi dels Alemanys
Jardins de la Francesa
Jardi dels Maristes. Part of the former school of the same name it’s a quiet, paved, elevated spot that look over Girona.
John Lennon park. Yes, they named a park after him. Quiet spot tucked away on the edge of the old town at the bottom of St Daniel village. Several terraces connected by steps.
Natural Park Areas. The whole region of Catalonia is dotted with several magnificent natural parks, nature reserves and includes marine reserves like the Medes Islands, off Estartit.
Aiguamolls de l’Empordà (Parque Natural de Aiguamolls
Parque Natural de Aigüamolls de L’Empordà
Parque Natural de Aigüamolls de L’Empordà
Museums outside Girona. Most of these are in the wider Costa Brava area, both inland and coastal locations. None are free but kids often have free or reduced entry prices.
The Dali Theatre Museum (Museu Dali), Pl. Gala-Salvador Dali, 5, Figueres. Built on the site of a former theatre it was opened in 1974 and contains a big and varied collection of this famous artist’s work.
Toy Museum of Catalonia, Hotel Paris, Sant Pere 1, Fiqueres. With over 5,000 toys on display and a section with toys, photos and momentos that belonged to the famous painter Dali.
Museum of Fishing, (Museu de la Pesca) Palamos.
The Magic House, Xevi Collection, Sta. Cristina d’Aro. Billed as ‘a museum of the magical and curious’. It’s all been collected by an illusionist called Xevi during a long international career. It contains magic tricks, curiosities, photos all inside an old Catalan house.
Municipal museum, Tossa de Mar, Pl. Roig l Soler.
Pottery Museum, La Bisbal, C. 6 d’Octubre.
History of Toys Museum (Museu d’Historia de la Joguina Tomas Pla. Collection) St. Feliu de Guixols, Rambla Vidal 48-50. Mostly Spanish made toys (3,500) made between 1860-1960.
Archaeological Museum of Catalunya, Puig de Sant Andre, Ullastret. An important Iberian settlement 2,500 years ago, open between 10-8 but closed Mondays. The museum also has another site at Empuries once an ancient port city.
Citadel Museum, Roses. History of Roses through the ages, from Palaeolithic times to the present and an exhibition entitled ‘The Sea of Poseidon’.
Cork Museum, C/ Tarongeta 31, Palafrugell. Learn all about the cork making process.
Museum of the Monastery, Pl. de l’abadsia, St. Joan de les Abadesses (Ripolles).
Archaeological Museum, Banyoles. Situated in the Pia Almoina palace it has many finds from early times.
Museu Albeniz, St.Roc, 22 Camprodon. Dedicated to the famous composer born in Camprodon it has many personal mementos and musical items.
Museu del Bonsai, Ctra. Girona-Palamos, P.O. Box 135 La Bisbal d’Emporda.
The Castell de Peralada museum, Placa del Carme, Peralada
Catalunya en Miniatura, Torrelles de Llobregat www.catalunyaenminiatura.com
The Automobile collection of Salvador Claret, Ctra. Nacional 11, km.698, 17410 Sils La selva www.museuautomobilsclaret.com
Butterfly Park, La Mugueta, Carretera de Castello a Epuriabrava 17486, Castello d’Empuries.
Museu de la Tecnica de l’Emporda, C/dels Fossos, Figueres www.mte.cat
ParcArt. In Cassa de la Selva quite near Girona. It has over 159 outdoor, modern, contemporary sculptures. Check the website for summer and winter opening times. www.parcart.net
Museum of Miniatures and Micro-miniatures, Pl. Prat de Sant Pere 15, Besalu. Check website for summer and winter opening times. www.museuminiaturesbesalu.com
Volcano Museum (museu dels volcans). Av. Santa Coloma 43, Olot. www.olot.cat/cultura
Casa Museu Can Trincheria, C/ Sant Esteve 29, Olot. A patrician’s home from the 18th C. with period furniture and wall decorations. www.olot.cat/cultura