Girona - Cathedral of Saint Mary

A church existed here before the Moors conquest the iberian peninsula. This church was converted into a mosque in 717. The Franks reconquered Girona in 785 under Charlemagne, and the church was reconsecrated in 908.

Bishop Roger (son of Roger I of Carcassonne) started a reconstruction in 1015. A new church and a cloister were built in romanesque style until 1064. The two towers were completed in 1117.

The cloister was completed already 1064 and most parts are still in the original condition. Like the cloister of Sant Pere de Galligants (less than 500 meters north), the arches of the four galleries are supported by twin columns. But - this cloister is about one century older. Here is a different style of carving, actually here are more than just one artistic style.

There are very different themes and topics themes depicted here. Scenes from the bible, dignitaries, people at work, hunting scenes, birds...

Similar to Elne (now France, once Northern Catalonia), here are some magnificent friezes. Here is a smaller one, depicting Noah's Ark, flanked by a bird (left) and a winged dragon (right). Three men (Noah´s three sons?) are approaching the ark.