Girona tours - Sanctuary of the Angels

This walk takes you from the old town of Girona up to a hilltop shrine allegedly founded by a priest kicked out of Jerusalem by the Jews. A place of pilgrimage since the late Middle Ages, with at one stage a small community founded by a Portuguese gardener, it was subsequently burnt down on at least three occasions by, ahem, liberating armies and anarchists. As one would expect, on each occasion it has recovered, and the neighbouring bar even more so. Dalí­ chose this location for his second, secret marriage to Gala on August 8 1958 (the 1934 ceremony was civil), and it became one of Lance Armstrong's favourite climbs during his stays in Gerona. There are superb views of most of the surrounding mountains, countryside and coast, and the path is through rich woodland--principally Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) but with substantial quantities of cork and other oaks etc. Tell us if you want to coincide with one of the numerous procession up to, or celebrations on top of, the mountain, which include Good Friday (at night), September 8, and various local pilgrimages. If you're over for the weekend, let us take you up to mass here on the Sunday and show you round town on the Saturday.