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| Municipality of Girona | |
|---|---|
| Name | Girona |
| Native name | Girona |
| Settlement type | Municipality |
| Coordinates | 41°59′N 2°49′E |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Spain |
| Subdivision type1 | Autonomous community |
| Subdivision name1 | Catalonia |
| Subdivision type2 | Province |
| Subdivision name2 | Girona |
| Subdivision type3 | Comarca |
| Subdivision name3 | Gironès |
| Area total km2 | 39.1 |
| Elevation m | 75 |
| Population total | 101852 |
| Population as of | 2021 |
| Population density km2 | auto |
| Leader title | Mayor |
| Leader name | Marta Madrenas |
| Website | Official site |
Municipality of Girona Girona is a municipality in northeastern Spain, capital of the Province of Girona and the comarca of Gironès. Located at the confluence of the Onyar River, the Ter River, and the Gironella River, Girona sits within the historical region of Catalonia and lies roughly midway between Barcelona and the French border. The city has layers of settlement reflected in architecture from the Roman Empire through the medieval period, the Spanish Civil War, and contemporary cultural institutions such as the Museu d'Història de Girona.
Girona's history begins with a Roman walled town linked to the Via Augusta and the provincial administration of Hispania Tarraconensis. During the early medieval period Girona became a focal point of the County of Barcelona and the Marca Hispanica established by the Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne. The city endured sieges during the Reconquista and later during the Peninsular War against Napoleon's forces, notably the 1809 siege that figures in accounts alongside figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte and commanders of the French Imperial Army. In the 11th and 12th centuries Girona's Jewish community flourished until expulsions influenced by decrees of the Crown of Aragon and broader Iberian policies culminating in 1492 under Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. Girona's fortifications were modernized in the 19th century during conflicts involving the First Carlist War and Second Carlist War, and the municipality played roles during the Spanish Civil War, including actions involving the Republican faction and the Nationalist faction.
Girona occupies a valley in the Catalan Transversal Range near the Gavarres Massif and the Serra de Finestres. The municipality is traversed by the Onyar River, which divides historic neighborhoods, and the larger Ter River that flows toward the Costa Brava. Girona's climate is transitional between Mediterranean climate regions found in Barcelona and more continental influences toward the Pyrenees Mountains. Nearby protected areas include the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà and landscape features link the city to the Costa Brava coastline and the foothills leading to Andorra and Occitanie.
Girona's population reflects historical migration patterns tied to industrialization, service-sector growth, and cross-border movement with France. The municipality has communities with origins in Spain's internal migratory flows from regions like Andalusia and Extremadura, as well as expatriate residents from United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, and Nordic countries. Language use in Girona includes Catalan language and Spanish language, with institutional presence of Universitat de Girona and cultural ties to Catalan media such as TV3 and Catalunya Ràdio. Demographic trends show aging cohorts similar to other European municipalities and variable birth rates influenced by economic cycles tied to the Eurozone.
The municipal council of Girona operates within the political framework of the Autonomous community of Catalonia and the legal statutes of the Kingdom of Spain. Local politics features parties active in Catalonia such as Convergència i Unió, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya, and newer formations like Candidatura d'Unitat Popular and Ciutadans. Administrative responsibilities include coordination with the Provincial Deputation of Girona, the Comarca de Gironès institutions, and regional bodies based in Barcelona. Girona's municipal services interact with provincial courts including the Audiencia Provincial de Girona and infrastructure agencies like the Generalitat de Catalunya's departments.
Girona's economy combines tourism tied to the Costa Brava and historic center with sectors such as manufacturing in the textile industry, food processing linked to regional agriculture in Empordà, and technology firms connected to the Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona. The municipality benefits from proximity to PortAventura-linked tourism flows and transport corridors to Barcelona–El Prat Airport and Perpignan–Rivesaltes Airport. Local markets include the Mercat del Lleó and business associations such as the Cambra de Comerç de Girona. Economic development strategies reference the European Union structural funds and regional initiatives from the Departament d'Empresa i Coneixement.
Girona's cultural landscape includes the Girona Cathedral (Catedral de Santa Maria), the medieval Jewish Quarter (Call), and the Arab Baths modeled on Roman baths traditions. Museums include the Museu d'Art de Girona, Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya, and the Museu del Cinema. Annual events feature the Temps de Flors flower festival, the Fires de Girona, and programming linked to the Festival de Cinema de Girona. The city's walls (muralles) and towers relate to fortifications preserved alongside sites referenced by travelers like George Orwell and scholars such as J. M. G. Le Clézio. The gastronomic scene intersects with Catalan chefs celebrated in Spanish and international guides, and establishments participate in routes associated with the Empordà DO wine region.
Girona is served by the Girona–Costa Brava Airport and a high-speed rail connection on the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line via the Barcelona–Perpignan line with services from Renfe. The municipality's roads connect to the AP-7 motorway and the N-II road toward Figueres and France. Public transit includes urban bus services and regional links to Figueres–Vilafant, Sta. Coloma de Farners, and commuter corridors feeding Barcelona. Utilities and infrastructure projects coordinate with the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità and wastewater treatment tied to river basin authorities such as the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro and Agència Catalana de l'Aigua.