Just north of Girona lies the Lake of Banyoles, a crystal clear body of water about 2 kilometres long, favoured particularly by rowers. Stroll, swim or row your way around the picturesque lake, and stop for a rest, a snack and a coffee at the nearby establishments in the town of Banyoles.

After Museum Island, the Kulturforum is the second centre of art in Berlin. It is the home not only of the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery), the Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery), the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) and other museums, but also houses the Philharmonie (Philharmonic Hall) and the Staatsbibliothek (National Library). The New National Gallery was designed by a star architect Mies van der Rohe.

Girona’s El Call is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval Jewish quarters, a labyrinth of narrow, steep alleys centred around Carrer de la Força. At its heart lies the Museum of Jewish History, housed in a building that once held a 15th-century synagogue and now vividly recounts the story of Catalonia’s Jewish communities. Exhibits trace their profound contributions to medicine, astronomy and philosophy, while also confronting darker chapters like the Inquisition and the 1492 expulsion. Highlights include an 11th-century miqvé (ritual bath), funerary slabs with Hebrew inscriptions, and the original expulsion edict. Detailed multilingual panels guide visitors through themes of daily life, rituals, and cultural exchange. Beyond the museum, the quarter itself whispers with history. Wander its cobbled lanes to sense the resilience of a community that shaped Girona for centuries.