By Jim Farber
Arya Stark races through the streets of Braavos, causing pandemonium as she flees the wrath of the Many-Faced God. Jamie Lannister, atop his snow-white charger, lays siege to Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing.
These are scenes devoted fans of the HBO series "Game of Thrones" know well. What they may not know is that one of the most remarkable towns in Spain, Girona, provides their background.
Located in Catalonia, 60 miles north of Barcelona, Girona is a city where the ancient past (dating back as far as the first century B.C.), the bustling present and the fantasy kingdom realms of "Game of Thrones" come together. It is a city that saw the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the influence of the Moors, the rise of Christianity and the horror of the Inquisition.
It's also a city that contains the best-preserved medieval Jewish Quarter in Europe and a towering Romanesque/Gothic cathedral that defines the skyline. But outside the walls and alleyways of the Old City, Girona is a modern, cosmopolitan town with gracious plazas, flower-lined cobbled streets, a beautiful defining riverfront, elegant stores and renowned restaurants including El Celler de Can Roca, formerly ranked as the world's best restaurant by Restaurant Magazine and currently rated No. 2.
Strategically located between the mountains and the sea, Girona is encircled by the Pyrenees to the north and the beaches of the Costa Brava to the south, which makes it a popular shore excursion for the many cruise ships that dock in the port of Palamos. You enter the heart of Girona by crossing one of the many bridges that span the Onyar River. Then as you work your way up toward the imposing stone walls and grand gates that guard the Old City, the modern world fades away and you enter the world of medieval Spain, as well as Braavos and King's Landing. For real devotes of the series, there's even a "Game of Thrones" walking tour offered by Viator for $67 that features key filming locations and (according to Viator's promotional material) an abundance of "insider gossip."
Girona's historic landmarks that became locations include the Cathedral of Santa Maria with its vaulted nave (the largest in Europe) and cloisters; the labyrinthine byways of the Jewish Quarter and its historical museum; the Esglesia de Sant Marti Sacosta, a church near the Pujada de Sant Domenec, home to the famous Girona staircase. Carrer Ferran el Catolic is an age-old Arabian bathing complex, which once formed part of a convent. Adjacent to the small plaza of Placa dels Jurats is the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, a Romanesque Benedictine structure.
The history of the Jews in Spain is a sad one. But before the horrors of the Inquisition, Spain, and particularly the town of Girona, supported a large and thriving Jewish community. And while its synagogues were all destroyed, much of the architectural and archeological history of the Jews of Girona, who lived in El Call (the Jewish Quarter), survived and can be seen.
In the street El carrer de Sant Llorenc you can find the center, Bonastruc ca Porta, where the Jewish Museum of Girona is located. This fascinating museum describes the origins of the Jewish community's beginning in the ninth century and features an array of objects used in daily life and religious ceremonies. The museum also includes a model of the Jewish quarter as it appeared at the end of the 14th century.
According to the museum's mandate: "The main aim of the Museum of Jewish History is to preserve and reflect the history of the Jewish communities of Catalonia, which throughout the entire medieval period formed part of, and made a decisive contribution to, the history of the country and its cultural and scientific development. In most cases an attempt has been made to illustrate the explanations given during the visit to the museum with examples of items originating from Girona's own Jewish history. These examples, which may be in documentary, archaeological or pictorial form, thus offer a general explanation of the pattern of Jewish life in medieval Catalonia."
Every year thousands of visitors enjoy the wonders of Barcelona. The wonders of Girona should definitely be included on such a trip.
WHEN YOU GO
For more information, visit Girona Tourism: www.girona.cat/turisme/eng
"Game of Thrones" in Girona with information about Viator walking tour:
www.gameofthronesspain.com/film-location/girona.php
The Museum of Jewish History, Foundation Call de Girona:
www.aejm.org/members/museum-of-jewish-history-foundation-call-de-girona
Jim Farber is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
A visit to ancient Girona, Spain, allows visitors to relive the past while they enjoy its bustling present. Photo courtesy of Jim Farber.
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