Melia Girona ★★★★

The large and modern hotel Meliá Girona set in town’s commercial area near the big shops, stores and boutiques, is the ideal base from which to explore Girona’s historical sights.
 
Guests will be warmly welcomed into a glossy reception area, awash with polished wood and shiny marble and shown to their smart and comfortable rooms, offering everything you’d expect from a four-star property of the trusted Meliá brand.

Begin each morning with a vast and varied breakfast buffet, served in a bright and cheery dining room. Taking inspiration from Mediterranean cuisine, fresh market produce and seasonal products, the buffet features a wide selection of treats including freshly baked pastries, cold meats and cheeses, hot kebabs, eggs, sausages, various types of breads, olive oils, yoghurts and cereals – a sure way to set you up for a day of sightseeing.

Home to Catalonia’s best-preserved medieval Jewish quarter, Girona has a wealth of historical and archaeological sites, and since it’s very easy to discover it all on foot, all you have do is step outside your hotel and start exploring.

En route to the city’s sights, stop to admire the tiny narrow streets, filled with an elegant array of Baroque, Gothic and Modernist buildings. Your first stop is the town’s cathedral, towering high above the alleyways and making quite a statement with its ornamental Baroque façade.

Those who want to discover more about Girona’s medieval Jewish community, which was Catalonia’s second-most important up until 1492, should visit the Museu d’Historia dels Jueus de Girona, which gives a fascinating insight. Later, get to know the city better by walking its medieval walls along the Passeig Arqueòlogic, where you can enjoy vast city views, walk past lush gardens and visit the ancient Arabic Baths.

The Banys Àrabs may have closed long ago, but if you want to experience a modern day equivalent, head back to the Wellness Centre at the Meliá Girona, which features a hydro-massage, sauna, massage cabins and an extensive range of luxury treatments.

At night, there’s no need to scour the area for somewhere to eat as the Meliá provides an excellent restaurant right on the premises. Serving up classic Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist, the restaurant offers the choice of seating in an elegant dining room or outside on the romantic terrace. To start, try the duck and goat’s cheese salad with raspberry vinaigrette, followed by grilled sole with pink grapefruit sauce, and for dessert – you can’t go wrong with a traditional Crema Catalana, a Catalan cream that is similar to crème brûlée .  There are also plenty of pasta, meat and seafood dishes to try.

The Meliá Girona offers the perfect base from which to explore the nearby Costa Brava, the Pyrenees or the surrounding medieval towns of Empordà, Peratallada and Besalú.