Located on the Costa Brava, Cadaqués is much more than just a Mediterranean village. It is a place where history, architecture, and culture converge, creating a unique and captivating atmosphere. This fishing village has managed to preserve its authentic charm while embracing various influences that have shaped its current identity.
In Cadaqués, you can explore the life of a famous figure of the 20th century, Salvador Dalí. In the bay of Portlligat, on the northeast coast of Spain, is the only permanent residence of the famous Catalan painter, today transformed into a museum in his honor. You can visit his house and gardens to discover his most extravagant works and creations. Salvador Dalí always maintained a loyal relationship with his beloved Cadaqués, where he spent long summer periods. Portlligat was where he decided to live until the death of his wife Gala in 1982, after which he moved to Púbol Castle.
In 1930, seduced by the landscape, the light and the isolation of the place, Salvador Dalí settled in a small fishermen's house in Portlligat. The landscapes of the region were often represented in his works, testimony to the profound influence that this place exerted on his imagination. For forty years, he created and shaped his own home, giving free rein to his boundless imagination. He described it as "a true biological structure [...]. Each new impulse in our life corresponds to a new cell, a new room.
Commenting on his residence in Cadaqués, Salvador Dalí said: “Portlligat is a place of achievements. It is the perfect place for my work. Everything conspires to make this happen: time passes more slowly and each hour has the right dimension. There is a geological tranquility: it is a unique planetary situation.
Currently, the house consists of the living rooms on the ground floor, his study, rooms containing all kinds of objects related to the painter's artistic activity, and the outdoor areas with the gardens and the swimming pool. You can immerse yourself in the lair of this surrealist figure as he walks through this carefully preserved living space. Every corner of this house tells a story, the story of an artist whose vision transformed the world of art and whose mark remains indelible on the landscape of Cadaqués. It is advisable to book in advance on the museum's official website due to the large number of visitors, especially during peak season.
On the way to Cadaqués, you will also have the opportunity to discover the Cap de Creus Natural Park, the first maritime-terrestrial natural park in Catalonia. It houses numerous natural and cultural treasures protected under the strictest Comprehensive Natural Reserve status in Catalonia. The park contains two of the four Comprehensive Natural Reserves of the autonomous community: Cap de Creus, in the municipality of Cadaqués, and Cap Norfeu, in the municipality of Roses.
The Cap de Creus Natural Park is located at the easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, where the Pyrenees meet the sea. This Catalan nature reserve occupies a total area of about 13,000 hectares, of which 11,000 are land and 3,000 are sea. If you like walking, the natural park offers a wide range of itineraries.
The Cap de Creus Integral Natural Park stands out for its unique morphology, which has inspired artists such as Salvador Dalí and Josep Pla. The north wind and the salinity of the sea have shaped this landscape, whose great geological value can be seen in the outcrops of metamorphic and granite rock. The coast is home to the plants best adapted to local climatic conditions. This is the most interesting vegetation in the park, with no equivalent anywhere else on the Catalan coast. In the heart of the Mediterranean, this corner of paradise enjoys a warm climate all year round.
It has a great variety of landscapes and colors that leave no one indifferent. The Cape is characterized by its numerous steep and dark cliffs, its lush vegetation, its magnificent coves and a sea of multiple shades of blue. A feast for the eyes!
Emblematic Buildings
Cadaqués is a village with a rich architectural diversity that intertwines history and styles in a fascinating manner. Among its most prominent buildings, Modernism shines for its beauty and originality, largely influenced by residents who prospered in America and brought Cuban influences. Here we present some of the most emblematic buildings of Cadaqués:
Casa de Don Octavio Serinyana (Casa Blaua)
Located in Riba des Poal, this 20th-century modernist house (1913-15) is the work of Salvador Sellés and Baró. Its modernist style and vibrant colors make it an unmistakable icon facing the sea.
Escuela Pública Caritat Serinyana
Founded in 1915 thanks to the Serinyana family, this modernist school on Calle Sol de l’Engirol was built to promote education in the village.
Casa Federico y Víctor Rahola
This modernist building is located at Plaza Frederic Rahola, number 6, and is another architectural gem that stands out in the village landscape.
Parish Church of Santa María
In the Plaza de la Iglesia, this late Gothic style temple began its construction in the mid-16th century. The church, rebuilt after being destroyed by the Turkish pirate Barbarossa in 1543, houses an impressive Baroque altarpiece of 23 meters dedicated to the Virgin of Hope.
Casino de la Amista
Founded in the late 19th century, this neoclassical building housed the charity society La Benéfica, a historic place in the heart of Cadaqués since 1870.
Sanctuary of San Baldirio
Located between Cadaqués and the Portlligat cove, this Baroque temple from 1702 is near the current cemetery. Originally dedicated to Saints Abdón and Senent, their remains were saved by the residents of Cadaqués after a shipwreck in Portlligat.
Oratory of San Pío V
This sanctuary with dome and Latin cross was built in honor of Pope Pius V after the victory over the Turkish pirates in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Guided by Juan de Austria, Christian ships destroyed the Turkish fleet. In gratitude, the people of Cadaqués built an oratory in memory of the Pope. Despite the passage of time, the sanctuary continues to receive visitors.
Cape de Creus Lighthouse
At the easternmost point of the peninsula, this lighthouse, the second oldest in Catalonia, began operating in 1853. Besides serving navigators, it now houses the Cape de Creus Space, an information center for the Cap de Creus Natural Park.
These buildings not only beautify Cadaqués but also narrate its rich history and evolution over time. Each one has a unique story that contributes to the charm and character of this picturesque coastal village.
Old Town and Church
Exploring the history of Cadaqués requires immersing oneself in its old town. This village, with its medieval roots and once protected by sturdy walls, constitutes the historical heart of Cadaqués, where only an old wall remains today, now part of the town hall. Walking through this ancient urban core means treading on the "rastell," an old pavement handmade with stones molded by the constant ebb and flow of the sea. Calle del Call is a clear example of this pavement in excellent condition, designed in a herringbone pattern to prevent slips by absorbing water.
The church of Santa María de Cadaqués rises at the highest point of the old town, offering an impressive panoramic view of the village, the bay, and even the distant lighthouse of Cala Nans. This church, with its late Gothic style and Renaissance elements, has a history marked by destruction at the hands of the pirate Barbarossa in 1543, leading to its reconstruction with funds donated by local fishermen, as recounted in the verses of Frederic Rahola and Trèmols:
" The church of my village
was made by the fishermen
working on holidays
for the good of our Lord "
Inside, a magnificent 23-meter-high Baroque altarpiece dedicated to the Virgin of Hope stands out as a gem of the Vic school. The church also houses nine other small gilt wood altarpieces, as well as a historical piece built between 1689 and 1691 by Josep Boscà. This is the Old Organ of Cadaqués, considered one of the oldest organs in Catalonia. During the Spanish Civil War, the church served as a refuge, protecting its artistic treasure from the ravages of conflict
