The Dali Museum in Figueres

If you visit the city of Barcelona, or even if you live in it but have not yet gone, make sure you reserve a whole day to go to the Teatre-Museu Dalí in Figueres (about an hour and a half by train from Barcelona) operated by the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí. In this spectacular building, built using the facilities of the town’s former Teatre Principal, you can find hundreds of works by the eccentric Catalan artist.

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A building as a work of art

Teatre-Museu Dalí is one of the most famous museums in Spain, with over 800,000 visitors a year. To create it, Dalí gave free rein to his genius, developing a unique piece of art where all of his other works could be exhibited. The building’s facade is quite picturesque, with a roof filled with egg-like sculptures and exterior walls covered in hundreds of representations of the “pa de crostons”, a typical bread of Figueres.

The irreverent genius

Through his paintings, sculptures, monumental installations, plays, films, photographs, and books, among others, Salvador Dalí became famous worldwide as a somewhat of mad and irreverent genius. One of the constants in his work was his wife and life partner Gala, very prevalent on the museum walls and in its most emblematic pieces displayed, such as Retrato de Gala con dos costillas de cordero en equilibrio sobre su hombro (1933), Leda atómica (1949), Galatea de las esferas (1952).

Things to look out for during your visit

In the museum’s central courtyard, you will find an astonishing installation made with a Cadillac, a boat, a column of tires and a reproduction of Michelangelo’s slave. If you position yourself strategically in the Mae West Room, this famous and provocative character will be revealed in front of you. And do not forget to check out the roof of the Palau del Vent to experience what is it is like to stand below gods.

More than an exhibition of oeuvres, the Teatre-Museu Dalí offers quite a surreal experience where your senses will wake up from their sleep to absorb all the stimuli that the versatile artist created throughout his life.

Useful information

Teatre-Museu Dalí is located at Plaça Gala i Salvador Dalí, 5, in Figueres, Girona.

Tickets are priced at 14€ per person with children until the age of 8 going in for free. There is also a reduced price of 10€ for students, seniors, and unemployed people.

The museum’s schedules are as follows: From January 1st to February 28th – 10:30 am to 6 pm. From March 1st to June 30th – 9:30 am to 6 pm. From July 1st to September 30th – From 9 am to 8 pm. From October 1st to October 31st – From 9:30 am to 6 pm. From November 1st to December 31st – From 10:30 am to 6 pm.

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Other Dalí-related sites in Girona

Though the Teatre-Museu Dalí is undoubtedly the most famous place to see artwork created by Dalí, there are also other spots in Girona that should be visited by those who truly admire the artist.

Castillo Gala Dalí

Also known as the Castle of Púbol, Castillo Gala Dalí is one of the former homes of the surrealist painter and his beloved wife, who was actually buried on the grounds of the castle. Curiously enough, Dalí and Gala never actually lived together in the Castle. Gala is the one who would spend the most time there, while Dalí would only pay visits to it. It was only after Gala’s death that Dalí moved into the Castle. Many years later, in 1992, the Castle was opened to the public as a museum.

Castillo Gala Dalí is located at Plaza Gala Dalí, in Puból, Girona.

Casa Salvador Dalí

Another place that should be included on your Dalí tour of Girona is Casa Salvador Dalí. This is the house where Dalí lived and worked from 1930 on, before moving to Castle of Puból in 1982. The house has a very particular labyrinthine-like structure and it is decorated with a variety of surrealist and kitsch elements that were characteristic of the artist’s style. The house was declared “Bién de Interés Cultural” in the year of 1997 and today it is open to visitors as a museum.

Casa Salvador Dalí is located at Platja Portlligat, in Cadaqués, Girona.

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* Main photo by Luidger via Wikimedia Commons