One of the main architectural attractions of Spain with confidence can be called the Cathedral of Girona. A bizarre combination of Gothic style, Baroque and Romanesque and Arabic culture make this place attractive for tourists. The last straw in the bowl of popularity of the cathedral and the whole town was the shooting of the cult series Game of Thrones, which took place here in the second half of 2015.
In the article, the reader will find a lot of interesting information about the Cathedral of St. Mary, about the town of Girona and, of course, about the filming of "Game of Thrones", which made this place a Mecca for fans of the series.
Where is the Girona Cathedral
The small town of Girona, located 30 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea, in the north-eastern part of Catalonia, is considered one of the most popular places in Spain. An airport is located 10 kilometers from the city. The population of the city, numbering about 100 thousand people, lives a quiet and calm life, creating the impression of a real medieval city.
The main attraction of the town is the Cathedral of Girona, located in the historical center of the settlement between the two parks - Parque de la Devesa and Paseo Archeologist.
The attraction is located on the Cathedral Square on the east bank of the river. You can go to the other side with the help of pedestrian bridges. Near the cathedral there is a railway.
The exact geographical coordinates of the Girona Cathedral are 41.987284, 2.824555. You can also get to the place by taxi or with a sightseeing tour. By the way, tourism in the city is very developed and there is even its own Girona Guides Association.
It is not necessary to go to Spain to visit the cathedral. The administration maintains a chic official website that allows you to take a virtual walk around the Girona Cathedral. The visitor can choose the description of the walk in a suitable language. In addition, under the appropriate sound accompaniment, the visitor of the resource has a unique opportunity to look into the treasury of one of the most interesting and beautiful places in the world, look through the library, delve into the historical chronicles stored here.
Near the cathedral of Girona, in the northwest, is another ancient landmark - the Basilica of St. Felix.
To the north are the famous Arab baths, which also became the location of the filming of one of the episodes of the Game of Thrones.
Why is the cathedral called cathedral
The adjective “cathedral” is rooted deep in history. One of the meanings of the Latin word “pulpit” means “throne”, “throne”. This throne was intended for the highest clergyman in the state, for example, a bishop. The priest could move around the region and visit several temples. The cathedrals in which there was a throne were called cathedrals.
History and sights of the cathedral
The Cathedral of Girona has a long history. The first references to the architectural structure are rooted in the early Christian period and report a certain sanctuary.
In the VIII century, Muslims who captured the territory of modern Catalonia erected a mosque on the site of the sanctuary. The dynasty of Carolingians, Frankish kings, conquered Iberia in the VIII-IX centuries and rebuilt the temple.
The main part of the structure was built from the XIII to the XVI century and has been preserved in its original form to our time. In the cathedral you can see a lot of interesting things.
The spectacular sight is the nave of the cathedral - a rectangular elongated part of the temple, designed for parishioners. On the official website of the cathedral, the administration proudly reports that the nave of St. Mary’s Cathedral is the largest in the world.
The mesmerizing sight is the main altar of white marble, intended for worship.
Be sure to visit the chapel and the courtyard of the temple.
Glass stained glass windows look very beautiful.
The bell tower, crowned with a statue of an angel, is considered one of the most interesting places in the cathedral of Girona. Photo is not able to convey a tenth of the magnificence of this building.
Filming of the game "Game of Thrones"
In 2015, the HBO crew came to the city to shoot the 6th season of the popular series. From this moment, the already high attendance of the Girona Cathedral has increased significantly. Game of Thrones contains several unique episodes filmed in this amazing place. The cathedral itself during the filming turned into Baylor septum.
On the famous 90 steps leading to the cathedral, Jaime Lannister took off on a horse, trying to save young Margery Tyrell from the court of His Sparrow.
In the historical center of the city, Arya Stark was attacked by an unnamed girl, who lost her sight in the Temple of the Faceless.
If cities starred in films along with the actors, then Girona would have received one of the main roles.