Sant Feliu de Guíxols

infobox catalan city

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province=Girona
comarca=Baix Empordà
population=21,155
population_year=2007
area=15.62
population_density=1.328,83
elevation=4
demonym=guixolenc, guixolense, feliuense
mayor=Pere Albó Marles (PCS)

Sant Feliu de Guíxols is a municipality in the "comarca" of the Baix Empordà in
Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the Costa Brava and is an important port and tourist centre. The district abuts to the north, the upmarket s'Agaró resort built round the Sant Pol Beach. In addition to tourism and the port the cork industry is a traditionally local industry. The town contains a large monastery which now houses the town museum and is a protected historico-artistic monument. The C-253 road runs north along the coast to Platja d'Aro and Palamós, while the C-65 road runs inland from the town. The GI-682 provides a dramatic cliff top drive to Tossa de Mar to the south.

Etymology

The name Sant Feliu goes back to the martyred saint, Feliu, who came from Africa. However, the origin of the name Guíxols is unknown.

Geography and Climate

Located on the Mediterranean, Sant Feliu de Guíxols has idealic weather almost all year long. The coastline of Sant Feliu de Guíxols spreads over ten kilometers. It also includes many little bays with coves surrounded by pines with rocky or fine sand beaches. The beaches are cleaned daily and a modern water treatment system prevents wastewater from entering the sea. The town is engulfed by small mountains, with forests of pine, oak, and cork trees.

Monuments

* Sant Feliu de Guíxols Monastery: The town's monastery was built by the Benedictine order and first referenced around the year 961. Since then it has been remodeled several times. The building now houses a history museum. The monastery includes the Porta Ferrada, the symbol of the town and the towers of the Corn and Fum. It is an excellent example of the town's medieval architecture.
* Plaça del Mercat: The market place serves as the heart of public and economic life in the town. A fruit and vegetable market takes place every morning on the “Plaça”. On Sundays, the weekly market takes place along the Passeig and on the Plaça, a popular meeting place for residents.
* Passeig dels Guíxols: The boulevard of Sant Feliu de Guíxols is unique, and is a wide sandy walkway lined with trees; ideal for a relaxing stroll.
* Passeig del Mar : Opened in 1833, the seafront promenade was built the medieval town and the sea. Little by little, the humble homes of fishermen from the medieval era were replaced by stately homes. Today, the area's architecture is mostly modern; because of real estate, many of the mansions are gone and condominiums have replaced them. Nonetheless, it makes for a lovely walk along the town's beach.
* Casino la Constància: The casino was constructed in 1888 by the architect, General Guitart. It is also known as casino dels nois.
* Pedralta: The largest rocking stone in Europe.
* Antiga estació del ferrocarril: Designed by architects, Rafael Coderch and Gabriel March, the old train station was built between 1889-1892, and transported people from Sant Feliu de Guíxols to Gerona. It was used until 1969, and now serves as a public school. It is seen as a reminder of the town's progressive era.
* Historic Homes: In the mid to late 1800s, Catalonia began to prosper economically and developed a bourgeoisie class. Sant Feliu de Guíxols has many examples of the elegant, bourgeoisie homes of this time period. Some examples are the casa Gaziel (1880), the casa Pecher (1894), the casa Maynegre (1898), the casa Girbau (1910), the casa Maruny (1909), the casa Ribot (1904), the casa de la Campana (1911), and the casa Patxot (1917-1920).
* L'ajuntament: The town hall, somewhat gothic in style, yet simple, was originally built in 1547. It has survived battles and real estate. However, today it has a tower added on from 1847.
* Ermita de Sant Elm: This small hermitage was founded originally in 1203. The original chapel was built in 1452, and dedicated to Saint Elm; however, it was destroyed by the French in 1696. It was rebuilt in 1723, only to be damaged in 1943, during the Spanish Civil War; the present chapel was restored in 1993. It lies peacefully on a cliff above the sea.

Festivities

* Carnival: Sant Feliu de Guíxols is located in an area known for its parties, festivals and especially its carnivals. It has one of the best carnivals in the Costa Brava, as do the towns Platja d'Aro and Palamós.
* Porta Ferrada International Festival: Instituted in 1958, this festival is celebrated in the town's monastery, and has become internationally popular with time. It involves theatre, music, and dance, and is usually celebrated in the summer.
* Fiesta Mayor: A traditional, Catalan festival, it is celebrated on August 1. It is dedicated to the town's patron saint, St. Feliu.

Demography

infobox catalan municipio demography
pop_1900=11,333
pop_1930=9082
pop_1950=8306
pop_1970=12,508
pop_1986=15,546
pop_latest=19,456
latest_year=2001

Gallery

Twin cities

Sant Feliu de Guíxols is twinned with:

flagicon|Austria Schwaz, Austria

flagicon|France Bourg-de-Péage, France

flagicon|Germany Mindelheim, Germany, since 1994

flagicon|Italy Verbania, Italy, since 1994

References

* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). "Guia de Catalunya", Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).

External links

[http://www.guixols.net/menus/menup2i.htm Official site]