London Stansted to Gerona Airport
Most people flying in to Gerona Airport head straight for the resorts of the Costa Brava, yet this attractive town situated on the banks of the Onyar and Ter rivers is a worthwhile tourist destination in its own right. Gerona (or Girona as it is known in Catalan) has a long history having been occupied by the Iberians and the Romans. Its strategic location meant the city has been subjected to numerous sieges, the most famous of which is the siege of 1809 when Gerona managed to repel Napoleon’s forces for over seven months.
Flights between London Stansted and Gerona Airport are operated by Ryanair. The airport is around 12km (7 miles) from the centre of Gerona. There is an hourly bus service operating between 5.30am and 12.30am from the airport to Gerona city centre. The journey time is about 25 minutes and a single ticket costs 1.75 euros (£1 is approximately equal to 1.45 euros). Buses also run from Gerona Airport to Barcelona city centre (journey time approx 70 minutes and a single ticket is 11 euros) and to the main resorts of Blanes, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava. A taxi to Gerona city centre costs 18 euros.
Places of interest in Gerona include:
- Cathedral. To reach the cathedral you have to climb a vast flight of 90 steps known as the Escaleras de la Pera. The structure dates back to the 11th century but was enlarged in the 14th and 15th. The Gothic nave is enormous and surrounded by 30 side chapels, each one a masterpiece in itself. The cathedral houses a number of fine examples of religious art, the most important of which is the ‘Tapestry of the Creation’. Dating from around 1100, this well-preserved tapestry depicts Christ surrounded by colourfully-embroidered figures.
- Museum of Art. Housed in a former Episcopal palace, the museum displays a range of artwork from Romanesque times until the present day. Highlights include the Gothic style Pubol altarpiece, the Lady of Besalu carving from the 15th century and other items of religious art.
- Museu d’Histoire de la Ciutat. This museum, housed in a former convent, traces the history of Gerona from prehistoric times up until the present day. Exhibits include musical instruments, tools and other everyday objects. Parts of the cemetery, where the bodies of members of the Capuchin Order were held before being mummified, still remain today.
- Arab Baths. The baths were actually constructed in the 12th century, around three hundred years after the Moors had left Gerona, but were built in accordance with Muslim principles. They consist of four main rooms: the ‘apoditerium’ relaxation area; the ‘frigidarium’ cold baths; the ‘tepidarium’ warm rooms; and, finally, the ‘caldarium’ hot baths.
- Museum of Cinema. This recently opened museum houses the film-maker Tomas Mallol’s collection of more than 25,000 items covering the history of cinema. Exhibits include old cameras, early films, photographs, posters, drawings and various inventions which led to major developments within the film industry.
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