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| Girona (province) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Girona |
| Settlement type | Province |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Spain |
| Subdivision type1 | Autonomous community |
| Subdivision name1 | Catalonia |
| Seat type | Capital |
| Seat | Girona |
| Area total km2 | 5863 |
| Population total | 761892 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population density km2 | auto |
Girona (province) Girona is a province in northeastern Spain within the autonomous community of Catalonia, encompassing coastal and inland territory from the Mediterranean Sea to the Pyrenees. The provincial capital is Girona, and the province includes historically and culturally significant municipalities such as Figueres, Blanes, Lloret de Mar and Besalú. Girona's geography, history, demography, economy, administration, culture and transport connect it to wider regional networks like Barcelona, Perpignan, Toulouse, Pau and international bodies including the European Union.
The province spans the northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula between the Mediterranean Sea coast—marked by the Costa Brava and towns such as Cadaqués, Tossa de Mar and Roses—and the Pyrenees mountains bordering France, with valleys leading to passes such as the Col d'Ares and Col de Banyuls. Major rivers include the Ter (river), Fluvià, Muga and Onyar, which shape riverine plains around Girona and Figueres. Protected areas include parts of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park and the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, linked ecologically to networks like Natura 2000 and adjacent French reserves such as Parc naturel régional des Pyrénées catalanes. The provincial transportation corridor connects to AP-7, N-260 and international routes toward Perpignan and Barcelona–El Prat Airport.
Girona's territory has prehistoric links with Iberians and Greeks through coastal colonies before Romanization under Roman Republic and Roman Empire administration, with settlements recorded in Empúries and epigraphic evidence tied to Provincia Hispania Tarraconensis. Visigothic and Lombard eras precede the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and later Carolingian incorporation into the Marca Hispanica under Charlemagne and counts such as Wilfred the Hairy. Medieval principalities saw Girona woven into the Crown of Aragon and maritime networks including Pisa and Genoa, while the early modern period connected the province to dynastic unions like the Catholic Monarchs' realm and conflicts including the War of the Spanish Succession and uprisings tied to the Peninsular War against Napoleonic France. 19th- and 20th-century developments include industrialization linked to textile centers around La Bisbal d'Empordà and Salt, and civil strife during the Spanish Civil War with episodes involving the Battle of the Ebro's wider impact and postwar recovery under Francoist Spain and later democratic transition culminating in statutes within Catalonia and integration into the European Union.
Population centers concentrate in the city of Girona, the coastal resorts Lloret de Mar and Blanes, and inland towns like Figueres and Olot. Demographic trends show seasonal fluctuations driven by tourism from markets such as United Kingdom, France, Germany, and visitors using ports like Port of Barcelona and airports including Costa Brava–Girona Airport and Barcelona–El Prat Airport. Minority and immigrant communities originate from Morocco, Romania, Ecuador and other European Union states, altering linguistic distributions among Catalan language, Spanish language and immigrant tongues. Urbanization, aging in rural zones such as Garrotxa and population growth in commuter belts toward Barcelona shape municipal planning.
The provincial economy combines tourism—centered on the Costa Brava, cultural attractions like the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres and historic centres such as Besalú—with industry in sectors including textiles, ceramics from La Bisbal d'Empordà, agro-food production in the Empordà and fisheries along the Mediterranean coast. Agriculture features vineyards tied to DO Empordà and olive oil production in areas near Empordà and Roses, while services link to financial institutions like CaixaBank and transport logistics via Port of Barcelona and road networks like AP-7. Research and education nodes include the University of Girona and regional innovation clusters cooperating with European programmes under the Horizon Europe framework.
Administrative organization follows Spanish territorial law with provincial institutions seated in Girona coordinating municipal councils such as the Ajuntament de Figueres and Ajuntament de Blanes. The province is subdivided into comarques including Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà, Gironès, Garrotxa and Ripollès which interface with the Government of Catalonia and national ministries in Madrid. Electoral behavior sees competition among parties like Convergence and Union, Socialists' Party of Catalonia, People's Party (Spain), Republican Left of Catalonia and regional lists for Spanish general election contests, with representation in the Parliament of Catalonia and the Congress of Deputies (Spain).
Girona's cultural fabric features Romanesque and Gothic architecture in Girona Cathedral, Jewish heritage in the Jewish Quarter of Girona and medieval bridges and fortifications in towns like Besalú and Peralada Castle. Artistic legacies include Salvador Dalí's association with Figueres and festivals such as Temps de Flors in Girona and La Diada traditions linked to Catalan identity. Gastronomy highlights restaurants with ties to chefs influenced by Catalan cuisine movements and markets such as Mercat del Lleó and products from DO Empordà and Penedès viticulture. Museums and cultural institutions include the Dalí Theatre and Museum, Museum of the History of Catalonia collaborations, and heritage routes connected to Camí de Ronda coastal paths and pilgrimage pathways toward Santiago de Compostela.
Transport infrastructure integrates the AP-7 and regional roads like the C-63, railway links on the Barcelona–Cerbère railway connecting Barcelona and Perpignan, service at Costa Brava–Girona Airport and proximity to Port of Barcelona. Public transit includes commuter rail operated by Renfe and regional services by FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya), while cycling and hiking infrastructure uses trails including the GR 92 (long-distance footpath) and the Camí de Ronda. Infrastructure projects often coordinate with EU cohesion funds and cross-border initiatives with Pyrénées-Orientales authorities in France.