Right ahead, you’ll see Casa Marieta tucked beneath the covered arcades of Independence Square. To spot it, look for a line of big arched windows and doorways hugging the checkered floor beneath a long, high ceiling. The name “Casa Marieta” is painted above the entrance. And yes, those classic streetlights at the doorway aren’t just for show-they’ve probably seen more soups and secrets than most people! Look for the menu stand out front and the cozy curtains behind the glass.
So here you are, standing outside one of Girona’s most beloved landmarks. Imagine you’re under these grand ceilings more than a hundred years ago, with the scent of fresh bread and roasting meats drifting out the door. Casa Marieta opened its doors in the late 1800s-possibly 1890 or 1892-when the square was alive with farmers, traders, and the clatter of horse carts resting after a day at the city’s biggest fruit and vegetable market.
Back then, it was first called “Bar Trol,” then “Ca la Bartrola,” and finally took the name Casa Marieta after Maria Vinyoles, known affectionately as “the Marieta.” She ran not only a restaurant here, but a little boardinghouse-so if you had a heavy meal and couldn’t walk straight, well, you didn’t have far to go! Travelers and townsfolk would come for a homemade meal, maybe a glass of wine, or to sleep off the excitement of market day.
Just imagine Maria herself bustling around, making sure visitors from far and wide felt at home. She bought the business from her bosses and turned it into a family legacy-three generations! Picture rustic tables, steaming soup, and laughter echoing under these arches.
Casa Marieta was famous enough to get cheeky mentions in newspapers, and during the Spanish War of Independence in 1808, this very square gained its current name. Through all its years-wars, renovations, triumphs, and tribulations-Casa Marieta has stayed full of life, warm welcomes, and the smell of traditional Girona cooking.
So if you feel hungry, don’t blame me-this is where the best local stories start with a meal and end with a nap!
