Game of Thrones Tour
Girona

Girona

Girona is the capital of the Girona Province in the region of Catalonia. It is located 98 kilometres (61 miles) from Barcelona in the northeast of Spain, near the border with France. Girona is a city of rich historical and cultural heritage, whose historical past is evident in its beautiful buildings and the architectural elements of its streets and squares in the old city centre. The old town stands on a hill along the easternshore of the river Onyar, while the more modern part of town stands on the plains to the west. Eleven bridges connect the riverbanks along which the row of colourfully painted buildings is reflected in the water.

Girona was one of the filming locations for season 6 of the Game of Thrones series. Many streets and buildings served as places in Braavos and King’s Landing, and the interior of the monastery was used as the Citadel in Oldtown.

Cathedral of Girona

Girona’s most celebrated icon, the Romanesque and Gothic cathedral, stands majestically on the scenic Plaça de la Catedral. Built between the 11th and 18th centuries, the Girona Cathedral is most notable for its Gothic-style nave, which is the widest of its kind in the world.

Here a spectacular Baroque staircase combined with the facade of the Cathedral form a unique and grandiose public space. In the Game of Thrones series these stairs were used as the exterior for the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing, where Jaime Lannister has a showdown with the High Sparrow. Jaime arrives together with the Tyrell soldiers to try to prevent the walk of shame of Queen Margaery.

Girona Old Town

The historic and medieval areas of the old town of Girona are quite stunning and very well preserved. Labyrinthine cobbled streets, medieval churches and ancient fortresses are surrounded by fortified walls and towers. Winding alleys and staircases in the old Jewish Quarter have been used to depict the city of Braavos in the Game of Thrones series.

At the beginning of sixth season, Arya Stark is blind and begging on the streets of Braavos when she is attacked by the waif. She is actually begging in the medieval quarter of Girona, right behind the Cathedral on a street called Bisbe Cartaña.

Girona’s festival square Plaça dels Jurats is used for outdoor scenes of the theater in Braavos. Amidst a huge crowd, Arya is watching the play that is about the Lannister family while spying on the lead actress by order of Jaquen H'gar. In real life this square is also used as a theatre and concert venue in Girona.

The bridge between the Plaça dels Jurats and the Sant Pere de Galligants Abbey is used as the bridge in Braavos where the waif, masked as an old woman, stabs Arya. In reality, the bridge itself has no water under it, and the actual scene of Arya in the water was filmed in a harbour in Northern Ireland.

The stairs of Sant Marti Sacosta church is an another filming location in Girona used for the markets in Braavos. An injured Arya fleeing from the waif rolls down a flight of stairs and overturns several baskets of oranges. Dating back to the 17th century, the church is known for its unique carvings on its arch and a well preserved baroque facade.

Another highly recommended location for a visit are the Arab baths, also known as Banys Àrabs, where Arya is trying to hide while fleeing from the waif. Situated behind the cathedral, they are in a late Romanesque style building built in the 12th century, imitating the structure of Muslim baths.

Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants

The Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants also appears in season 6 of Game of Thrones as the citadel in Oldtown where Samwell Tarly, accompanied by Gilly and little Sam, wants to train as a Maester.

This ancient Benedictine abbey was built from 992 and located outside the walls of Girona near Plaça dels Jurats square. Visitors to the monastery can enjoy the exhibits of the Archaeological Museum of Catalonia that include tools, textiles, pottery and much more.