www.girona.cat The city of Girona enjoys a privileged location close to the Pyrenees mountains, the Mediterranean sea -the Costa Brava- and the city of Barcelona, the capital of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain. This location provides Girona of along the great communications axis linking Barcelona and the Spanish Mediterranean coast with the rest of Europe and has good road, rail and aerial (Girona and Barcelona airports) connections. Also, the city has good connections with the industrial sector, through joint activities developping R&TI. In addition, medium and small sized industrial firms of the sector have a strong export vocation.
The city of Girona has 84.000 inhabitants, and the town offers strong service sector which constitutes 75% of the local economy, it makes strong a tourism sector what has becoming one very important factor for local development.
History:
Girona was founded in Roman times (75 BC).Visitors to the Old City can walk around the streets of the historic centre and along the old city walls. They can also enjoy the host of wonderful architecture including the cathedral of Santa Maria, which has the widest gothic nave of all the medieval buildings in Europe. Visitors seeking culture are spoilt for choice with a large range of museums: the City History Museum, the Cathedral Treasury, the archaeological Museum, the Art Museum, the Jews History Museum and the Museum of Cinema - Tomàs Mallol Collection. Visitors are attracted to Girona also because of what it has to offer on commerce, its beautiful natural surroundings and one constantly evolving wealth of gastronomy and entertainment.
Location:
The city of Girona has 84.000 inhabitants. It enjoys a privileged location close to the Pyrenees mountains, the Mediterranean sea -the Costa Brava- and the city of Barcelona, the capital of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain. It is an attractive city with an ancient history and an architectural and artistic wealth, which is mostly found in the Old Town. The city is 70 metres above sea level and has a mild continental climate. With 23° of average maximum temperature (maximum 41,7° on 12th August) and 10,7° of average minimum temperature (minimum –3,8° on 16th February), and an average annual rainfall of 748,6 mm, 2003 data. Girona is located along the great communications axis linking Barcelona and the Spanish Mediterranean coast with the rest of Europe and has good road, rail and aerial (Girona and Barcelona airports) connections.
Local economy:
The economy of the city of Girona is dependent on the service sector which constitutes 75% of the local economy: commerce, services for enterprises, financial sector, university training, public and private health services and public administration. The economic structure of the urban area of Girona is made up of agricultural activity (1,5%), industry (32,5%) and services (66,0%). The main industrial sector activities are: food industry, paper & graphics, metal production, machinery, electronic goods, transport equipment, textile, energy, gas and water. Medium and small sized industrial firms have a strong export vocation. The large part of the foreign trade is made with the European Union.
Tourism has become one very important factor for local development, very well linked with the tourist attractive of the province. Knowledge Economy is a challenge that the city as a whole – the Municipality, the University of Girona, Business representatives and Trade Unions, social partners and other local institutions – are facing on a global approach, both in its social, cultural, economical and political aspects.
Education:
The city has a long-standing tradition as a centre for education.The University of Girona has two campuses. The Rector’s Office and the Human Sciences schools are located in the Old Town. The Natural and Social Sciences and Engineering schools and the Scientific and Technological Park, in construction, are located in the south of the city.It has good connections with the industrial sector, through joint activities developping R&TI.
