Gerona, also known as Girona, city in the autonomous region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. Gerona is situated amid rolling hills, a short distance from the Mediterranean Sea.
In ancient times, the city was called Gerunda. It was controlled by the Arabs in 713, was held briefly by the Franks after 785, and was retaken by the Count of Barcelona in 1015. When Catalonia, Barcelona, and Aragón were united into a single kingdom in 1187, the crown prince bore the title of Principe of Gerona. Its location on the main route from eastern Spain made the city a frequent target for attack.
