Hotel S’aguarda also serves a huge breakfast buffet with ham, cheese, yogurt, etc. A sign over the tables asks “Please do not take food away” which we’ve seen people do all over Europe ( I had no intention of doing that). Another sunny and warm day, perfect for the walk to Casa Dali in Port Lligat, one of his many homes.
The Cadaques Tourist Office had given us detailed information on three walking routes in the area. Route 1 begins in Port Lligat, considered medium dificulty and takes 1-1/2 hours each direction to Cap de Creus, the most easterly part of Spain. Route 3, also medium difficulty and 1-1/2 hours heads up to St. Sebastian Hermitage overlooking Cadaques. Route 4, easy, and 45 minutes, goes to Cala Nana Lighthouse. Strange that there was no Route 2. Just 1, 3 and 4. The GR 11 and GR 92 (long distance hiking routes) also work their way through Cadaques.
Casa Dali (a short 1.5 km from Hotel S/aguarda and/or the center of Cadaques) is located in Port Lligat, and was just one of his many homes. Salvador Dali was a surrealist painter born in Figueres (1904-1989) who lived most of his life in Port Lligat and many reproductions of his art is scattered along the Cadaques promenade and seafront, showing the finished painting along with his inspiration.
Along the road/trail with olives groves on either side…View image, past a little old church, until we saw his house and Port Lligat in the distance.
Who else but Salvador Dali would have two gigantic heads on the roof of his house? And, when we walked down to the house/museum complex itself, there was a woman and elephant sculpture on another roof…View image…
The Dali complex consists of Port Lligat houses that were originally individual fisherman’s huts, bought at different times and turned into a labyrinth structure over a 40-year period. TIP: You can only tour by appointment only. Since we didn’t know this and hadn’t made an appointment, we couldn’t enter (10 Euros to visit Dali’s house, gardens, studio, etc.) and just walked around the perimeter and browsed the gift shop….View image… To book tickets and read more information, click on this link.
The setting in Port Lligat, among olive trees and the Mediterranean Sea, was very peaceful and serene. These views could inspire anyone to begin painting and Salvador Dali’s art was beginning to grow on me.
A few general Cadaques bytes:
– The tiny green olives from the region are delicious and I don’t usually consider myself an olive lover. Couldn’t stop eating them;
– You can rent boats and scooters from Cadaques Rentals;
– For diving in the summer, contact the Cadaques Diving Center; and
– There are over 14 hotels, 6 hostals, camping, apartments for rent, 38 restaurants and 25 bars.
Not bad for a town with a population of only 2,640 people!