The 23rd of April is not an official holiday here in Catalonia but it sure seems like it! Many balconies and buildings are draped in Catalan flags and many shop windows try to incorporate one of the two main symbols of the day.
The tradition is for men to give women a rose (or two!) and in return they are given a book. The centre of Girona around the Rambla is full of stalls selling books and flowers and I have never seen the streets so busy, possibly because it has been a splendid, warm (hot even) day, with a clear blue sky after what seems like weeks of rain.
This is one of the few times that people seem to raise money for "good" causes; children raise money for their school play or boy scouts for a summer camp.
So beware as you walk the streets, either buy a rose or use a book to defend yourself !
 

Shopping is always fun but in Girona it is both easy and convenient since everywhere is accessible on foot and the choice is pretty good for a town of 100,000 people. The main shopping streets are the Rambla and Ballesterias on the Old Town side of the river, and Carrer Nou and Santa Clara on the other side of the Pont de Pedra bridge. In the new town the main streets are Juan Maragall and Pau Claret where larger shops like Zara and Massimo Dutti are based. The trendy designer boutiques are on Santa Clara, the youth are attracted to the variety along Ballesteries and behind the Rambla you can find plenty of interesting places for every wallet and taste. Merry Christmas!

The Rambla, or Rambla de la Libertat to be more precise, is the commercial and social centre of Girona from where all activities tend to start or finish. Walking from the Plaça de Catalunya past the Pont de Pedra bridge to the main Tourist Information Office along a wide pedestrianised avenue, this is the Rambla. Whether shopping for the latest in fashion or just wanting a coffee and watching people go about their business, it is the best place to get a feel for life in Girona. There are plenty of bars and restaurants along here with terraces full of tables spread outdoors all year round for both locals and visitors to enjoy. The "paseo" tends to be a bit more purposeful than in other parts of Spain but is equally important on weekend afternoons for families meeting at their favourite cafe to catch up on the weeks gossip or read the paper. Only a few paces from the Adjuntament (Town Hall) everyone passes along the Rambla at some stage.

From the Cathedral gardens there is quite a steep climb to where you get onto the old city walls. These walls have been extensively restored and you can see a mix of old sedimentary rock, bricks and stones combined with modern materials making it a safe experience for all ages. The views of the Cathedral, Sant Felix Church as well as all of Girona spread out below is worth all the huffing and puffing.
Looking down from the height of the walls you can see Modernist private houses, secret gardens and interesting features such as an ancient "privvy" or toilet incorporated into the wall, presumably for the patrolling guards. Buildings of Girona University, churches and some of the narrow lanes give the Old Town or "Barri Vell" its charm. Once you descend from the walls close to the river Onyar you are in the heart of modern, commercial Girona, at the Placa de Catalunya and only a short walk to the pedestrianised Rambla de la Libertad with lots of shops and cafe  terraces.