I've flown through Girona. Should I stay there

A. You won't regret it if you do. And flights are pretty cheap at the moment.

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Q. Is there much to do in the city
A. Lots. Some of the newer and smarter hotels in Eixample, the new town on the southern side of the R�u Onyar, which is also home to a fair number of smart shops and restaurants. There are even branches of some clothes shops with branches in the UK - though the prices are a lot lower.
But if time is short, you should really head across the stonebuilt Pont de Pedra towards the medieval old town, the Call, where you'll find a feast of historic delights. The first of these is the view along the river itself, full of carp and overhung by old but nonetheless colourful tenements. You'll quickly see why Girona is sometime called 'the Florence of Catalonia'. The iron footbridge in our picture is just to the north of this, and was designed by the Eiffel Company of Paris.
On their way to the Call, shopaholics may want to take their time wandering along the Rambla, the main thoroughfare which on Saturday mornings also hosts a flower market. There are lots of cafes underneath the arches here from which you can watch the passing show.
The Call itself - a labyrinth of lanes, alleys and stone steps that was once the Jewish Quarter - is off to the right of this. Running through it is the Carrer de la Forca, once part of the Roman Via Augusta stretching from Rome to Cadiz.

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Q. So what are the must-see sights here
A. Halfway along the Carrer de la Forca is the Jewish History Museum, which tells the story of the artisans, theologians and civil servants who flourished alongside their Christian neighbour here from the 9th century until the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. The school of Jewish mysticism, the Kabbalah, which once so fascinated Bob Dylan among others, began in Girona.
Further up the Forca, you'll find the start of the fantastic rococo staircase that leads to the doors of the stunning cathedral. Parts of the cathedral - the cloisters and a Romanesque tower that acts as a buttress to the nave - date back to the 11th century; the cathedral itself was built chiefly between the 14th and 17th centuries.
Believer or not, you can't help but be impressed by the nave, which is enormous - at 23 metres wide, it is believed to be the widest in Europe. And make sure you see the 11th century tapestry of the Creation.
On a much smaller scale, but fascinating, are the nearby Arab Baths - actually a 13th century Romanesque creation, with Moorish details. From there, through the narrow streets behind the cathedral, you can climb onto the city walls, along which you can stroll for a kilometre or so. The views over the city, the surrounding plain and towards the Girona Pyrenees, are fabulous.

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Q. All that walking sounds thirsty work. How's the city off for bars and restaurants

A. You won't be disappointed. My favourite is Le Bistrot, on the Pujada de St Dom�nec, which is friendly and buzzy inside but has a terrace and seating on the steps outside which afford great views of a really pretty corner of the Call, with a beautiful 16th century Renaissance arch. They do great pizzas, and if you make a bit of an effort with the Catalan menu, the young waiters and waitresses are very helpful.
There are plenty of restaurants and bars across the river in the Placa de la Independencia, a colonnaded square bound by 18th and 19th century houses. And the snootiest place we found - the Alberada, in the old town on the Carrer de l'Alberada - turned out to offer superb cuisine at very reasonable prices.
One thing, though. Don't book too early for an evening meal anywhere, unless you enjoy feeling a bit lonely. Particularly at weekends, the Catalans eat late. It's not unusual to see whole families - including young children - pitching up for a meal at 10pm.

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Q. Great. Where can I find out more
A. PATRONAT DE TURISME COSTA BRAVA GIRONA
Emili Grahit, 13-15, 9 B - 17002 GIRONA
Email: cbrava@cbrava
Phone: 00 34 972 20 84 01
Fax: 00 34� 972 22 15 70

GIRONA CONVENTION BUREAU
Gran V�a Jaume I, 46 - 17001 GIRONA
Phone: 00 34 972 41 85 00 and 00 34 972 41 85 41
Fax 00 34 972 41 95 01
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.cambra.gi/gironaconvention

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by Chris Parker

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