Girona

This month of March, the city of Girona has implemented the Girona Episcopal combined admission pass. A ticket that enables the user to visit the Cathedral, the Basilica of Sant Feliu and the  Girona Art Museum, which sits within the walls of the old Episcopal Palace, all for the reduced price of €10. Three heritage sites that are essential and complementary for those who want to discover and explore the history and the art of the Girona Diocese. Have you ever seen them?
 
BASILICA OF SANT FELIU
You can begin your route with a visit to the Basilica of Sant Feliu. Up until the 10^th century, this temple was the first cathedral of Girona. Today it is one of the city’s most representative Gothic buildings, thanks to its immense bell tower, which dates from the 14^th-16^th centuries. 
 
CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA DE GIRONA
Just minutes on foot from the Basilica of Sant Feliu, you will come to the Cathedral of Girona, a symbol of the city that dates back more than 5 centuries. Located at the highest spot in the city, its single nave is the second largest in the world, second only to that of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The 90 stairs of the spectacular stairway will bring you up to the entrance doorway.
 
GIRONA ART MUSEUM, IN THE OLD EPISCOPAL PALACE
Just next to the Cathedral, within the walls of the old Episcopal Palace, is the Girona Art Museum. Founded in 1976, this museum houses the third most important Gothic and Romanesque art collection in Catalonia. Here you will discover unique works of Catalan art, dating from the Romanesque period to the present day.
 
You may purchase the new combined admission ticket at any of these three sites. Discounts are available for children of ages 8 to 16, students over age 16 with student ID, seniors and physically disabled persons. There is also a special rate for tourism groups.
 
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We would like to suggest a number of different places around Catalonia where Easter is celebrated with particular devotion with ceremonies and services that have centuries of tradition behind them, and which now form part of Catalonia's cultural heritage.

PALM SUNDAY: VIC PALM MARKET

Easter week starts with Palm Sunday, which marks a very important date in the Christian calendar.  From 12 to 14 April one of the city's oldest fairs is held in Vic, the Palm Market. Over the course of years this has become a major event for the agricultural and livestock industries to include farming exhibitions, the sale of agricultural produce, leisure, sporting and cultural activities, as well as horse shows and the farmers' market fair.
 
GOOD FRIDAY: THE PROCESSION IN VERGES

Another unmissable tradition, if you want to experience Easter at first hand, consists of the Passions and processions that are held in Verges in the Baix Empordà district. The event is held every Maundy Thursday and represents a mystery based on the book in verse by Brother Antoni de Sant Jeroni describing the drama of Jesus' last hours. The procession sets off at midnight and leads around the village streets, the only illumination being from lit torches. The much anticipated highpoint of the proceedings consists of the Dance of Death, a macabre performance, medieval in origin, in which five skeletons jump and dance to the sound of a drum.
 
GOOD FRIDAY: PROCESSION OF THE HOLY BURIAL IN TARRAGONA

Another important Easter week event in Catalonia is the Procession of the Holy Burial in Tarragona. It leaves from and, after a long procession through the city, returns to the Plaça del Rei. The procession involves more than 3,000 people and follows an order that is strictly determined by tradition. Each brotherhood has its own position in the procession, and is responsible for the number of times it proceeds along the route.
 
FROM FEBRUARY TO MAY:  THE PASSION OF ESPARREGUERA AND THE PASSION OF OLESA DE MONTSERRRAT

The Passions of Esparreguera and of Olesa de Montserrat are the two most important ones in Catalonia and have their origins in medieval mystery plays. The first documented evidence of the performance of the Passion of Esparreguera dates from the early 17th century. Nevertheless, the oldest is that the passion of Olesa, for which the first documentary evidence dates from 1530. If you would like more information, please consult the programme for the Passion of Esparreguera and the Passion of Olesa de Montserrat.
 
If you would like to know what activities have been organised for Easter this year in Catalonia, please consult the programme


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There's more to the Costa Brava than just sun and sand. Go a bit further inland and we find a whole host of castles and forts, a testament to the medieval past and all are located in strategic areas. Their job: to defend a region as beautiful as it is dangerous. This close to the border, incursions and fights were commonplace.

This is our section on the coastal castles and forts you can't miss out on:

 

Roses

Wander through the Ciutadella, an authentic, open-air museum constructed by Charles I to protect against pirates and Turkish invasions.

Figueres

If you walk around the Castell de Sant Ferran you'll be surprised by the pentagonal floor-plan of one of the largest forts in Europe.

Montsoriu

The mysterious Castell de Montsoriu hides the secret of Guilleuma the witch. Rumour has it that for centuries she has haunted the fort, scaring off all who dare approach. This is not a visit for the faint-hearted!

Peralada

Owned by the Mateu family, the spectacular Castell de Peralada isn't completely open for visiting, but it is home to the 'Casino' and its gardens are open throughout July and August for the Festival de Peralada. A good opportunity to listen to good music and taste the county's wines.

Peratallada

This town, which was built around its castle, re-lives the Middle Ages one weekend a year. You’re invited to the mercat medieval from 3rd till 4th October: products from the county and period trades at the castle square.

Requesens

Nature and history combined in one place: we suggest you visit the castell de Requesens, surrounded by Mediterranean scenery and the smells of the Albera mountain range.

 

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