TRAVEL DIARY: FIGUERES

About a 40 minute bus ride from Girona took us to Figueres, the home town of Salvador Dali.

“I want my museum to be a single block, a labyrinth, a great surrealist object. It will be [a] totally theatrical museum. The people who come to see it will leave with the sensation of having had a theatrical dream.” – Salvador Dali

The Dali Theatre and Museum in Figueres, Spain, dedicated to Salvador Dali, stands as the world’s largest surrealistic structure, realizing his visionary dream.

The complex consists of Torre Galatea, stone tower, and a glass dome symbolizing the town of Figueres. The pink walls displayed bread roll patterns, roof has oversized eggs and Oscar-like statues.

It is called a Theatre-Museum because it was built on the ruins of a municipal theatre and was entirely designed by Salvador Dali himself from start to finish. This was opened to the public in 1974.

Walking to the entrance of the museum.

This is the main entrance of the Dali Theatre & Museum in Figueres. When I looked at the structure it got me thinking… “Why are there so much bread and baguettes?

And this one really confused me.

Upon entering the Museum’s circular courtyard we were immediately immersed in Dali’s imagination.

We were greeted by Dali’s 1941 Cadillac, rumored to be Al Capone’s former possession, with mannequins in the back seat. Drop coins, and rain cascades inside the car.

The courtyard was adorned with golden, Oscar-like statuettes, reflecting Dali’s love for film.

Dali’s boat above the patio has blue condoms symbolizing tears for his wife’s death. The geodesic dome, a crucial part of Dali’s vision, crafted by architect Emilio Pérez Piñero.

Here is an enormous wall painting of a human torso missing the head.

“Lincoln in Dalivision” appears to be a portrait of Abraham Lincoln from a distance, but from another closer view we saw a lady in the nude, which according to the tour guise looks like Dali’s wife, Gala.

On the opposite wall, my gaze was drawn to the ceiling adorned with subtle references to Michelangelo’s iconic Sistine Chapel masterpiece.

Under the Circular crystal skylight…

… is Dali’s unmarked grave below often unnoticed as people unwittingly walk over it, unaware until the tour guide reveals its presence.

And here is his tomb

The museum displays the largest and most diverse collection of his work.

A tribute to the movie star, Mae West: wall paintings form her eyes, fireplace as her nose, red lips as a couch, and blonde curtains as her hair. This can only be recognisable from a unique viewpoint.

Some of his works shown here.

I found a small garden enclosure at one of the exits—a tranquil space to rest my feet and my mind from all the surreal paintings and architecture I had encountered.

Then continued with more of his work which goes around the circular building.

Dali’s Theatre and Museum also houses his impressive jewelry designs which we nearly missed due to a separate entrance. Fortunately, we recalled it before leaving the building entirely.

Had a bit of a snack while waiting for the rest of the tour members.

A view from the parking lot with the last view of the dome, the church where Dali was baptised, and the Oscar like figures on the rooftop.

Photos from 15 October 2023

And then it was time to head back to Barcelona. The choice to explore the theatre museum and marvel at Dali’s masterpieces proved to be a surreal journey.