Geographic extension and data:
The province of Girona is within Catalonia, it covers an area of 5,885 square kilometres and is situated in the extreme northeast part of the Iberian Peninsula, between 41º40' and 42º30' latitude and 5º27' and 7º longitude East.
The Pyrenees are its northern border, between El Puig de Querol and El Puig de l'Abet Coronat, near Meranges and the Cape of Cervera, which submerges into the Mediterranean Sea.
The western border is a broken line that separates it from the province of Barcelona. The coastal strip is its eastern border, which extends along 158 linear kilometres (85 nautical miles) or 256 kilometres of the intricate profile of the Costa Brava.
Demographic data: 663.793 inhabitants
Climate: In keeping with its geographical diversity, there are numerous climates and microclimates in the area, which depend on the altitude and proximity to the sea. Overall, it could be said that the area enjoys a warm, gentle, Mediterranean type climate, characterised by hot, dry summers and moderate winters.
Currency: Euro
Language: Catalonia has two official languages, Catalan and Spanish. Most of the local population habitually speak Catalan, and all the population understand and can express themselves perfectly well in Spanish.
Times: Opening times of businesses vary according to their function and size. Small shops normally open between 9 and 10 am and close between 8 and 9 pm. On the other hand, the large department stores and hypermarkets open continuously from 10 am to 10 pm. On Sundays, businesses are shut, except at certain times of the year (over the Christmas holidays and at sales time). Sometimes smaller establishments close for an extra half day, often a Monday morning.
Banks are usually open from 8:30 am to 2 pm, Monday to Friday. Banks also open on Saturday mornings from 8:30 am to 1 pm (except in the summer) and from October to June, savings banks open on Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 7:45 pm.
Holidays:
1st and 6th January, April-March (Good Friday and Easter Monday), 1st May, 24th June, 15th August,11th September, 12 October, 1st November, 6th and 8th December, 25th and 26th December.
Useful telephone numbers:
Mossos d’esquadra: 088
Local Police: 092
National Police: 091
Guardia Civil: 062
Firemen: 085
Citizen attention (Generalitat of Catalonia): 012
The Red Cross (Urgencies): 972 222 415
Catalan service of the Health (Urgencies): 061
The RENFE ( Train station): 902 240 202
Girona – Costa Brava Airport: 972 186 600
Correus (Post office): 902 197 197
Weather information: 932 211 600
General Direction of Traffic information: 900 123 505