Costa Brava, located in the province of Girona, offers spectacular landscapes that combine the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Its welcoming coves, surrounded by imposing cliffs and pine forests, create a natural paradise. In this region, you will find towns such as Blanes, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar, each with its own unique charm and attraction.
Blanes, known as the “gateway to Costa Brava“, captivates with its stunning coastline and rich culture. Tossa de Mar, to the north of Blanes, is famous for its unspoilt beaches and coves, as well as for its walled town of Vila Vella, declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument. Lloret de Mar, between Blanes and Tossa de Mar, offers attractions such as the church of Sant Romà, with its modernist style, and the Santa Clotilde Gardens, with impressive views of the sea from a cliff.
One of Spain’s most outstanding artists is Salvador Dalí. Therefore, in this article we are going to explain the influence that Costa Brava had on the artist’s growth and inspiration. Remember that, with Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, you can get to Costa Brava from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Girona airport.
Who was Salvador Dalí?
Salvador Dalí, a prominent surrealist artist born in Figueres, Catalonia, in 1904, left an indelible mark on the art world with his boundless imagination and masterful technique. Dalí showed an early interest and talent for art, winning exhibitions in Barcelona and Figueres at the age of 14 and being admitted to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid at the age of 17.
Dalí’s eccentric personality and theatrical demeanour, along with his characteristic moustache and flamboyant dress, made him a legendary figure in the art world. His marriage to Gala Dalí, an enigmatic woman who became his muse, was passionate, but also fraught with conflict and jealousy. Dalí’s works featured surrealist elements such as the metamorphosis of objects and dreamlike landscapes. His unique adaptation of surrealism reflected his inner world of madness and his disordered mind, resulting in world-renowned works such as “The Persistence of Memory” and “The Temptation of Saint Anthony“.
Dalí’s influence on Costa Brava
The great artist Salvador Dalí found great inspiration in the landscapes of the Catalan coastline. From his early days in Figueres, for him Costa Brava was not only his home, but the garden of sensations and emotions where reality and fantasy intertwined. To understand the artist’s works, it is necessary to know the three municipalities that formed the Dalí Triangle: Figueres, Portlligat and Púbol.
Dalí Theatre-Museum, in Figueres
In the heart of Figueres, we find the Dalí Theatre-Museum. In this space we find works of art of all kinds: paintings, drawings, installations, sculptures, engravings, etc.
The museum was conceived and planned as a personal project by the artist himself. As you move through its rooms and spaces, let yourself be captivated by its smell and its peculiarity, without judging. You will discover Dalí’s artistic career, starting with his early works, surrealism, nuclear mysticism and passion for science, and ending with his latest creations.
In addition, apart from containing emblematic paintings by the artist, it stands out for having works made exclusively for his exhibition at the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. These include the Mae West Room, the Wind Palace Room and the Rainy Cadillac.
If your accommodation is in Lloret de Mar, Blanes, Tossa de Mar, Malgrat de Mar or Calella de Mar, you must consider that Shuttle2Sun offers its shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, so you can move to these towns, from Barcelona airport, Girona airport and Barcelona port.
Salvador Dalí House, in Portlligat
Cadaqués, the charming fishing village where he spent long periods of his life, became the artist’s sacred refuge. In the village of Portlligat is the home where he grew up and worked for several decades, now converted into a house-museum open to the public.
Over the years, the house grew to adapt to the needs of the artist and his muse, Gala. From the acquisition of new barracks to the construction of workshops and spaces, such as the Oval Room and the Swimming Pool.
Today, the house is divided into three different areas: the most intimate part, the studio filled with artistic objects and the outdoor spaces designed for public life.
In addition, visitors can explore an additional workshop used by Dalí for sculptures and performances, where he even painted with his feet.
Gala Dalí Castle, in Púbol
Púbol, located in the municipality of La Pera, is home to the Gala Dalí Castle, a mediaeval building transformed by Salvador Dalí as an offering to his muse Gala, which has been open to the public since 1996.
This place, documented since the 11th century, was restored by Dalí between 1982 and 1984, making it his last workshop and the pantheon for Gala.
Despite its deteriorated state when it was acquired by Dalí in 1969, he and Gala valued its romantic aspect, maintaining its ruined exterior during the restoration. Dalí repaired the semi-ruined walls and ceilings in ingenious ways, creating unique spaces and interior decoration based on murals and romantic symbology.
The castle became a mysterious place, full of beauty, such as the old kitchen transformed into a bathroom or the Piano Room. This residence became a symbol of Dalí’s love for Gala, to the point that he could not enter without her written permission.
Nowadays, when you visit it, you can see the paintings and drawings on the walls and ceilings, the sculptures of long-legged elephants in the garden and the collection of haute couture dresses that the artist gave to his muse. As well as the mausoleum in the basement, where Gala was buried.
The relationship between Salvador Dalí and Costa Brava is clearly an eternal romance. If you are looking for inspiration and amazement, this corner of Catalonia offers a unique and unforgettable trip, where you will not only enjoy its charm, but also get to know the painter’s imprint up close. If you visit Lloret de Mar, Blanes, Tossa de Mar, Malgrat de Mar or Calella de Mar, among other towns of Costa Brava, you must consider that Shuttle2Sun offers its shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, so you can move to these towns, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port and Girona airport.
