If you appreciate the work of Salvador Dali, you'll be pleased to know that there are a museum dedicated to him near Barcelona.
The museum is absolutely packed with art.
There are some 1,500 works to discover, from sculptures to paintings and photography.
Today, I'm taking you on a tour of this exceptional museum.
Dali Museum near Barcelona: article summary
Dali Museum near Barcelona: practical information
It all began in the 60s when the mayor of Figueres in Spain asked Dalí to donate a work of art to the city museum. The artist replied that he would donate not just a piece, but an entire building. To build the museum, Dali chose the ruins of Figueres' old municipal theater. In 1974, this idea came to fruition and the city created the Dalí Museum.
This Spanish building is part of a larger collection of works located in several museums collectively called the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, which Dalí organized and managed with his muse, business partner and wife, Gala. They also collected other works of art, and many different artists are also exhibited at the museum.
Modern, surreal architecture
This famous place became what is now the largest surrealist object not only in Spain, but all over the world. From the outside, the building looks really bizarre. The first thing you notice about the place are the hundreds of giant eggs on the walls. The whole thing is covered by a large dome protecting the museum.
The walls of the building are covered with thousands of loaves of bread. With the eggs and the walls adorned with bread, as you approach, you can already start to feel like you're in a dream. But the Salvador Dalí Museum inside is just as strange and wonderful as the outside.
Another interesting fact: did you know that Salvador Dalí's final resting place is here? He is buried in a crypt beneath the building's great dome.. You can find the burial site under the section that once served as the stage floor for the old theater.
An entire room dedicated to Mae West
It's no secret that Dalí was a bit of a... obsessed with Mae Westan American actress and global sex symbol. She introduced or inspired many of his paintings and pieces throughout his life, including his famous painting The Face Of Mae West and the iconic lip-shaped sofa, both designed in the 1930s.
The Spanish artist's museum devotes another whole room to him, the Mae West room, which is a sculptural installation based on these original works. It's a typical example of surrealism. If you look closely, the room is arranged so that the works form the face of Mae West!
Salvador Dalí's Jewelry Museum
There's also another exhibition featuring Salvador Dalí's jewelry, which you can also attend. In addition to 39 pieces of jewelry, you'll find drawings, paintings and works of art featuring the designs of the jewelry on display. There's also a unique mirrored staircase that lets you experiment with surrealism.
All in all, you'll spend about two hours at the Dalí Museum. It's a huge collection held on site, in its native region, whose culture and landscape have obviously been a great source of personal inspiration for the artist's work.
Dali Museum near Barcelona: how to get there?
There are several ways to get there. You can go to :
- By car there's an underground parking lot just around the corner
- By train the museum is a 15-minute walk from the station
- Visit bus Barcelona - Figueres line
What are the opening hours?
The museum opens :
- Tuesday to Sunday 10.30 a.m. to 5.45 p.m.
The Dali Museum near Barcelona is an exceptional place to visit. During your visit to the catalan capitalI'd advise you to drop in and soak up its beauty. For art lovers, it's going to be a very special time.
Leave a Reply