A view of Girona's Cathedral de Santa Maria from the medieval walls that surround the Gothic quarter of the city. Girona is also known for its Jewish quarter, Call, which dates to the ninth century.
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
A group of Italian school students sit on the cathedral's 18th-century stairway, which has 90 steps. The building's single nave is 72 feet wide, second only to St. Peter's in Rome.
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
A man walks along the River Onyar. Beyond him, the cathedral and another religious site, Esglesia de Sant Feliu, dominate the skyline.
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
Pont de Sant Feliu (Saint Felix's Bridge) spans the River Onyar near the cathedral, which was built over the course of 500 years and houses more than a dozen baroque chapels.
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
"Girona is to Barcelona what Arrezzo is to Florence in Tuscany. It's smaller, quieter and a city that would be a top destination in its own right if it didn't have such a famous neighbor," The Post's Jane Black writes.
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
A customer chooses a croissant in one of Girona's many cafes.
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
!["Day trips don't do [Girona] justice," Black writes, "because the best way to appreciate it is slowly: lounging at one of the elegant outdoor cafes, window-shopping at the boutiques housed in historic facades or wandering the circuitous, narrow lanes."](http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/gallery/100427/GAL-10Apr27-4407/media/PHO-10Apr27-220169.jpg)
"Day trips don't do [Girona] justice," Black writes, "because the best way to appreciate it is slowly: lounging at one of the elegant outdoor cafes, window-shopping at the boutiques housed in historic facades or wandering the circuitous, narrow lanes."
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
A young boy runs along the walls that surround Girona's Gothic quarter.
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
Tourists climb the steep steps that line Girona's narrow streets.
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
People stroll along la Rambla de la Libertat, a popular street that offers cafes and shops.
Charlie Mahoney-For The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher
Text Editor Sarah Marston
