Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square), Girona
Independence Square sits just off the Onyar River, a short step from the Saint Agust铆 Bridge. The spot once belonged to the old Convent of Saint Agust铆, but in the 19th century Girona chose to get itself a civic stage worthy of its name. Speaking of names, it harks back to the War of Spanish Independence, when the city withstood brutal French sieges in 1808 and 1809 and earned its reputation as the place that simply wouldn鈥檛 give in.
The architecture has its own quiet discipline: neat neoclassical fa莽ades, arcades that march in order around the square, and colonnades that frame the caf茅s and shops tucked beneath them. At the centre, though, restraint gives way to glory鈥攖he Monument to the Defenders of Girona, unveiled in 1894, shows three men locked in battle, a reminder that this square is more than a pretty face. And if you鈥檙e after something lighter, look for the 鈥淭urtle Boy鈥� fountain at the northern end鈥攁 small bronze figure riding a turtle who has charmed generations of Gironins.
For over a century, this has been Girona鈥檚 outdoor living room. Its arcades and terraces spill over with chatter, coffee cups, and evening glasses of wine. Benches shaded by trees make it a natural pause point, while the surrounding five-storey buildings give the whole scene a sense of symmetry and elegance. From protests to parades to late-night strolls, the square has always been where Girona gathers.
Today, it鈥檚 still the perfect pause between sightseeing stops. Order a cortado, watch the world go by, and then set off鈥攂ecause just beyond these colonnades lie the Onyar鈥檚 colourful houses, the city walls, and the cathedral steps waiting for your next climb.
The architecture has its own quiet discipline: neat neoclassical fa莽ades, arcades that march in order around the square, and colonnades that frame the caf茅s and shops tucked beneath them. At the centre, though, restraint gives way to glory鈥攖he Monument to the Defenders of Girona, unveiled in 1894, shows three men locked in battle, a reminder that this square is more than a pretty face. And if you鈥檙e after something lighter, look for the 鈥淭urtle Boy鈥� fountain at the northern end鈥攁 small bronze figure riding a turtle who has charmed generations of Gironins.
For over a century, this has been Girona鈥檚 outdoor living room. Its arcades and terraces spill over with chatter, coffee cups, and evening glasses of wine. Benches shaded by trees make it a natural pause point, while the surrounding five-storey buildings give the whole scene a sense of symmetry and elegance. From protests to parades to late-night strolls, the square has always been where Girona gathers.
Today, it鈥檚 still the perfect pause between sightseeing stops. Order a cortado, watch the world go by, and then set off鈥攂ecause just beyond these colonnades lie the Onyar鈥檚 colourful houses, the city walls, and the cathedral steps waiting for your next climb.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Girona. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square) on Map
Sight Name: Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square)
Sight Location: Girona, Spain (See walking tours in Girona)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Girona, Spain (See walking tours in Girona)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Girona, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Girona
Creating your own self-guided walk in Girona is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Girona Introduction Walking Tour
Girona sits in northeastern Catalonia, where every cobblestone seems to gossip about old allegiances and bitter defeats. Long before tourist maps and cafe terraces, Iberian tribes pitched up here in the 6th century BC. The Romans soon followed, stamping the place with the name Gerunda鈥斺�渘ear the river鈥濃�攁 practical nod to the Onyar River, which still slices the city neatly into old and new.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Game of Thrones Film Sites in Girona
Let鈥檚 do a visualization exercise: Girona鈥檚 medieval quarter, with its stone staircases and cloistered courtyards, suddenly posing as Westeros. Between 2011 and 2019, HBO鈥檚 Game of Thrones roamed Europe in search of backdrops, and Girona ticked all the boxes鈥擱omanesque towers, Gothic facades, and narrow alleys that looked like they鈥檇 been waiting centuries for a camera crew. The city... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles