Costa Brava – Cruise Ports

Culture

Salvador Dalí, Surrealist artist par excellence, had the rugged landscape of the Costa Brava as a constant source of inspiration. Perhaps because of this, along with his Russian wife Gala, he lived in this area for years and he made his home and studio in Cadaqués. The traveler cannot miss out on the Dalí Triangle, made up of the Dalí Thearter-Museum in Figueres, which possesses various works by the artist as well as surrealist installations and the permanent exhibit of jewels, the Salvador Dalí House – Museum in Portlligat, close to Cadaqués, which is made up of a group of fishing shacks that the artist bought to convert into his private home and studio, and the Gala Dalí Castle in Púbol, a medieval building Dalí gave to his wife, Gala, as a present, where lived for a long time. The latter contains areas of great beauty, such us the old kitchen turned into Gala’s bathroom and the Piano Hall.

The various civilisations that have passed through these lands, the rich history, and the variety of urban and rural landscapes have given rise to a wide range of different towns and villages that make up the human background of this area.The Mediterranean light of towns like Cadaqués, Begur or Sant Feliu de Guíxols, the coastal landscape, the sea and mountain flavours of Girona’s traditional and signature cuisine, leisure tourism towns like Roses, Platja d’Aro and Lloret de Mar, the blue and green hues of the waters in the Medes Islands marine reserve, the mediaeval towns of Peralada, Castelló d’Empúries, Pals and Peratallada, Dalí’s works, authentic ancient traditions and more contemporary cultural events … This is the best way to discover an area in all its diversity, to capture its essence and to discover the character of people who live there, choosing the best available options according to the time of year.

The villages of Pals, Peratallada, Peralada and Monells are renowned for their excellently conserved medieval enclosures, with interesting buildings and architectural and sculptural features on arches, wells, doors and windows. The presence of artisans and craft workers is another well-known characteristic of these villages.

Girona, the provincial capital, is a medium-sized city with good travel connections. The monumental heritage is outstanding, with a historic city centre containing numerous places of interest: the Jewish quarter, the Gothic cathedral, the Romanesque monastery of St Pere de Galligants, the collegiate church of Sant Feliu, the Arab Baths, the houses and bridges on the River Onyar, the defence wall, various museums, and so on. Girona is a city with over 2000 years of history, located half way between the Costa Brava and the Catalan Pyrenees.