January, 2023
Do not leave Catalonia without a visit to the Teatro-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí! The famous surrealist artist was born in the cultural town of Figueres, situated on the plains of the Alt Empordà. In the centre of this lively market town, you will notice the remarkable museum immediately!
The holiday season is not over yet and the museum is popular. People are lined up in front of the entrance. We buy our tickets and it shows the time you are allowed to enter. It means a short wait of fifteen minutes; not bad! A study of the building itself and the statues around are keeping us busy.
I have always been an admirer of Salvador Dalí. His work represent many different art movements; Realism, Surrealism, Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. Around 40 years ago, I visited this museum for the first time.
Dalí was born in 1904 and died in Figueres in 1989. His tomb lays in the crypt of his Theatre-Museum.
The artist spent most of his time together with his wife Gala in their house in Port Lligat. Later, Salvador Dalí bought a castle in Púbol for his muse and he was only allowed to visit with her special permission. After Gala’s death, Dalí moved to the castle, where she was entombed. All these places are situated in Catalonia and worth a visit!
On another occasion we drive to the sleepy Spa town of Caldes de Malavella. It is nestled on the plain of La Selva, away from the coast line.
In the first century AD, the Roman discovered the natural healing springs. They founded a settlement, which they called Aquae Calidae. The remains of the baths are visible in the centre. The municipality has three mineral-medicinal fountains. Here, the water emerges from underground at an average temperature of 56 degrees Celsius.
There are two prestigious Spas; The Balneari Prats (1840) and Balneari Vichy Catalán (1898), built in art nouveau and neoclassical architectural forms.
We visit both, just to see the buildings and relax for a moment on the terrace. In the near future, we might go back and stay for a few overnights. Prices are very reasonable outside the season! The small town also offers plenty of hiking and biking trails, the chapel of Sant Maurici and the ruins of the castle of Malavella.
The name Caldes (hot mineral springs) de Malavella comes from a local legend about an old, malicious aristocratic lady, who lived in the now-ruined castle. Mala means “bad” and vella means “old”. The thermal springs of the old evil one!!!
