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The Bizarre and “Must Visit” Teatre-Museu Dali in Figueres, Spain

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The week’s hiking portion from France into Spain was over. Six hikers staying at Hotel S/aguarda in Cadaques (Helen and Kevin, two French ladies and us) were going to be transferred back to Colliioure by van. A 1-1/2 hour stop was scheduled in Figueres first for those who wanted to visit the famous Teatre-Museu Dali (Dali Theater Museum). The weather changed from brilliant sun and warmth to cool with rain, a perfect day to spend inside in a museum.

TIP: If you are a student, senior or are traveling with children, always present identity papers/passports for a possible discount at any attraction. We showed our passports and saved 2 euros each. Lucky for us, the Salvador Dali Theatre-Museum opened at 9:30 a.m. instead of the 10:30 a.m., allowing a little extra time to visit. I’ve never been a Dali fan but this museum turned out to be extremely interesting and my grandchildren would have loved the bizarre and amazing exhibits.

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central courtyard of the Dali Museum in Figueras, Spain

The first sight that greats you is an incredible garden courtyard exposed to the sky within the old stalls section of the Municipal Theater of Figueres. In the center is a black Cadillac with a sculpure of Queen Esther by Ernest Fuchs…View image, together with muse (and later wife) Gala’s boat hanging from the ceiling…View image…topped with a black umbrella. The walls are decorated with art deco mannequins between the remains of the burnt theater beams, metaphysical washbasins (meant to be angels) and this was only the beginning! …we were not in Kansas anymore…

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sinks (washbasins) around the perimeter of the central courtyard, Teatre-Museu Dali, Figueres
 

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Dali painting Gala, Figueres, Spain

There are five sections in the Museum to visit: Courtyard and stage; ground floor and below stage; first floor; second floor; and third floor. All connected by small stairs (with bizarre sculptures in front of you or hanging), exhibit rooms surrounding the courtyard, one with Antoni Pitxot art. These works by Pitxot were remarkable because we actually knew what we were looking at. The rocks are people, aren’t they? …View image

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“Moses and Monotheism” or, as I refer to it, Moses with an octopus hanging over his head, Teatre-Museu Dali, Figueres

It would have been wonderful to have toured with an expert who could have explained the meaning of Dali’s important pieces. Very envious of the school groups sitting on the floor of the Stage Room under the geodesic cupola with teachers. We had no idea what we were looking at most of the time and I actually spent 12 Euros (after the visit) to buy a book that told me what I saw! “Oh…that’s what it was.”

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“Michelangelo’s Head” painted in 1947, in the Stage Room under the cupola,Teatre-Museau Dali, Figueres, Spain

My personal highlight was the Mae West Room, Dali’s surrealist dream. I walked in and said, “Nostrils and red lips,” but then watched other, more knowledgeable people climb a ladder-like set of stairs by the wall. Did the same, looked into a reducing lens hung between a camel’s legs and understood…View image… Watch the video below…

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“A Saliva Sofa” in the Mae West Room, Teatre-Museu Dali, Figueres, Spain
 

Number two was the “Palace of the Wind” dominated by an impressive ceiling painting of “Feet”, as I refer to it. You are supposed to think you are looking up to the sky, clouds and suspended figures whereas it is really a theatrical effect. What you are looking at is earth, sea and the dark hole in the center is night. …View image

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impressive ceiling painting, Teatre-Museu Dali, Figueres, Spain

It’s difficult to even relate the scale of Dali’s work, “genius”…or “madness” that created everything from impressionism, futurism, cubism and surrealism. Whatever it was, it was a wonderful visit that helped us appreciate Dali’s creative output, a visit we hadn’t expected to enjoy and 1-1/2 hours was definitely not enough. Salvador Dali even designed the outside of Theatre-Museum Dali to interest visitors waiting in line to enter with monuments, sculptures and more . We saw none of this because it was raining heavily. Next time..


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