Girona des el mirador de la Torre d'Alfons XII
Inici muralla de Girona
Torre d'Alfons XII des de la Pedrera
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The stone of Girona

Route
09/05/2015
Index card

Introduction

This itinerary runs through a district known as Les Pedreres (The Quarries), in the east of the city, beside the Old Town. The name evokes the origin of the district and its function in the history of Girona. 

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  • Typology
    Time Circular
  • Difficulty
    For families
  • Duration
    1 hour 15 minutes
  • Slope
    160.00 meters
  • Distance
    2.30 km
  • Theme
    Geologia
    Architecture and environment
    Landscaping
  • Activity
    By foot
  • Rating

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Description

The route runs along La Ferradura way, formerly a favourite walking place for Girona inhabitants until the quarries were developed into today’s residential area. On the way, you will learn something about the so-called Girona stone, its composition, and its formation millions of years ago. The path passes by the old quarries, and demonstrates the widespread use of this stone in the architectural heritage of Girona. It also affords remarkable views over the city. 

The name Girona stone comes from the fact that it is found in the area surrounding the city and has been quarried here since ancient times. This calcareous sedimentary rock originated from the deposit of carbonates and remains of living organisms formed in the shallow tropical sea that covered this area 50 million years ago. The whitish, grey-blue stone contains many fossils of which nummulites are the most frequently found.

 

Tips

TRAÇAT

  • Pujar dalt la muralla tot just al inici. 
  • Passada la Torre del General Peralta, hi ha una VARIANT. Us podeu baixar de la muralla i seguir cap la pedrera o continuar per la muralla cap a la Torre Gironella. Aquest petit tomb són uns 750 m. Val la pena. 

 

AIGUA

  • Porteu aigua.

 

PRECAUCIONS

  • Tenir cura dels nens a les parts altes i miradors. 

 

METEO

  • Evitar màxima insolació. No ombres.
  • Els dies de vent també és un recorregut molest. 

 

MATERIAL 

  • Calçat còmode.
  • Protecció solar. Gorra, ulleres i crema.

 

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What is there

What to see in: The stone of Girona

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City walls

Point of interest
Architecture
09/05/2015

The starting point of the itinerary is Catalunya square, from where you climb up the steps to the city wall at La Infància gardens.

The building of this stretch of the city wall commenced in 1362...

General Peralta tower

Point of interest
Architecture
09/05/2015

Look eastwards from General Peralta tower for a good view of the nummulite rock formations in one of the many quarries of the area, source of the stone used for the buildings in the historic city...

City wall blocks

Point of interest
Geology
09/05/2015

Close observation of the blocks used to build the city wall shows that calcareous nummulite rock was the most common building material. We can also see, to a lesser extent, other materials such as...

Gironella tower

Point of interest
Landscapes
09/05/2015

You now come to the Gironella tower vantage point, an old mediaeval construction integrated into Girona city walls, which was destroyed in 1814 during the retreat of the French troops. However, the...

Fossil observation point

Point of interest
Geology
09/05/2015

Here there is a point for observing fossils. If you look closely at the stone, you will see nummulites, i.e., “giant” single-cell organisms protected by a carbonated shell, which used to inhabit the...

La Ferradura way

Point of interest
Environment
09/05/2015

Now take La Ferradura (Horseshoe) way, the name of which evokes the form the route of the road draws. This pleasant stretch of the route takes you to the amphitheatre formed by the walls of the quarry...

Detail of carved stone

Point of interest
Environment
09/05/2015

At the entrance to the quarry, you will see some carved stone blocks that call to mind the former stone-working trades: quarrymen, stonebreakers, stonecutters, stone carvers, hewers, pavers, porters...

The Anglada quarry

Point of interest
Environment
09/05/2015

You are now at the Anglada quarry, one of the last to be in operation of the many that existed in this sector of the city. Although there were also quarries at other points such as Montjuïc or Pont...

La pedrera lookout point

Point of interest
Landscapes
09/05/2015

A few yards from the tower there is a lookout point affording splendid views of the city, with the Pyrenees on the horizon, among which you can make out the peaks of Canigó and Puig Neulós. 

You will...

Alfons XII tower

Point of interest
Architecture
09/05/2015

The highest point of the itinerary is Alfons XII tower. The path around its perimeter affords a magnificent panoramic view of the city. This 19th-century tower stands on the site of a former...

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Rating
/5
4 votes
20%
Ratings with comments Publish rating
Ruta molt bona, però a fer en èpoques en les que no hi hagi gaire turisme ja que la part de la muralla és estreta.
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