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The biggest festival in Girona takes place in late October and early November (26th October to 4th November in 2007) and lasts around 9 days. Saint Narcis festival is named after the patron saint of the city, known locally as ‘the Saint of Flies’. Girona is therefore filled with more than just pretty Girona accommodation and touristic Girona hotels; there’s a whole host of cultural events to be had.

The night begins in front of the Ayuntamiento, or town hall, and hundreds of people gather here to see the most important part of the night. Many of the Girona apartments overlook this area and it would be really worth investing in staying in this area in order to get the most spectacular views. Giant figures that reach a monstrous height of 12ft are paraded through the streets of the centre. There are numerous market stalls dotted all over the city, with the main market area being concentrated in the ‘Placa de Independencia’. Here you will find stalls dedicated to books, cured meats, sausages, honey, olives, cakes and beers from local micro-breweries. The food is a definite highlight of the festival, so loosen your belts and allow some room for cheesecake and fruit skewers dunked in chocolate. Yum!

If you find the Girona Cathedral, make sure to go to the bottom of the main steps at around 9p.m in order to see the performance of the ‘human castle’. This event is pretty self-explanatory but nonetheless a spectacular show; the performers climb one on top of the other to create a human tower, with a child climbing to the very top. The ‘castle’ then proceeds to climb to the top of the cathedral stairs, providing a breathtaking half hour of entertainment. ..The ‘Parc De La Devesa’ also holds venue to a whole host of events. During the whole week there’s a fairground with rides for all ages. In the La Copa area of the park (at the north end), a massive stage is erected for the various bands to perform on. This area also holds place to hot food and drink tents to make sure you stay nice and warm during the chilly autumn nights. Furthermore, each food stall is run by local schools and so you can feel like a real part of the community by supporting the event.

The grand finale of the festival takes place on the 4th of November when the street parade of ‘Trobada de Gegants’ (gathering of the giants) takes place. Giant papier-mâché figures are marched through the centre, each representing one of the surrounding towns or villages. The giants are joined by musicians and street performances in order to provide a full spectacle of events. This closing event lasts for about an hour and takes place at 11am in the old town’s ‘Rambla de Libertat’.