Girona Cathedral Steps & City Wall Promenade
The 90 baroque steps climbing to the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Girona are arguably the most photographed staircase in Spain, and the view back over the Barri Vell's terracotta rooftops is every bit as dramatic as the façade itself. From here, the Roman walls stretch north for nearly a kilometre, offering a free elevated walk above the city.
The Cathedral Itself
The cathedral's single nave — completed in 1604 — is the widest Gothic nave in the world at 22.98 metres, a staggering engineering feat that took three separate votes by the building committee to approve. Inside, the 11th-century Romanesque cloister and the embroidered Tapestry of Creation (c. 1100), one of the finest Romanesque textiles in existence, justify the entrance fee alone.
The treasury also holds the illuminated Beatus of Girona, an illustrated 10th-century commentary on the Book of Revelation. Even if religious art isn't your thing, the sheer ambition of the building is humbling.
Walking the Roman Walls
From the cathedral's north flank, follow the signs for the Passeig Arqueològic to join the old Roman and medieval walls. The walkway runs from the Torre Gironella in the north down to the Portal de Sobreportes gate, giving elevated views over the Onyar River houses and the Pyrenean foothills beyond on clear days.
The walls are free to walk at any hour and are especially beautiful at dusk when the city lights begin to flicker on below. Allow 45 minutes for the full circuit back down through the Jardins dels Alemanys.
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