Just north of Girona lies the Lake of Banyoles, a crystal clear body of water about 2 kilometres long, favoured particularly by rowers. Stroll, swim or row your way around the picturesque lake, and stop for a rest, a snack and a coffee at the nearby establishments in the town of Banyoles.

Housed in a historic building, The Cinema Museum holds Spain’s first and most significant collection of cinematic history, thanks to the visionary Tomàs Mallol. Acquired by the city in 1994, his private collection forms the core of this public museum. It traces over 400 years of visual storytelling through 25,000 artefacts — from magic lanterns and zoetropes to early cameras and projectors — making it one of Europe’s most comprehensive archives on pre-cinema and early film. Beyond the permanent exhibition, the museum hosts temporary shows, educational workshops, and a specialised library. While some displays are labelled primarily in Catalan and Spanish, introductory materials are available in English, French and German.

Every Sunday at Feria de San Pedro Telmo, in the heart of the San Telmo neighbourhood, a fascinating market takes place that covers the square and surrounding cobblestone streets with antiques and handicrafts, and the whole area bustles with life and music and eager shoppers searching for that rare find.

The Iraqi National Museum is dedicated to the rich history of Iraq and its ancient civilisations, including the Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. Its collections feature artefacts that span over 7,000 years of history. Unfortunately, many of these invaluable pieces were lost during the looting that occurred in the early days of the Iraq War in 2003. Since then, efforts have been underway to recover and restore these artefacts, and the museum continues to play a vital role in preserving and showcasing Iraq’s cultural heritage.