Free

Towering over the bay of Sant Feliu at the tip of the Gixols headland, Caseta del Salvament Marítim offers a unique insight into the history of coastguard protection and rescue operations along the Catalan coast.

The building was completed in 1890 and was strategically located to control the natural harbours of Abric and Calassanç, at a time when they were particularly vulnerable. Besides sheltering shipwrecked sailors and the volunteers who carried out search and rescue duties, the station was used to store rescue equipment, such as the lifeboat, the launching platform and the line-thrower, along with a wide variety of essential tools and materials for operations.

The cabin and its contents represent an exceptional heritage site due to the preserved materials and the fact that it remains in its original location. Original items from the late 19th century are preserved inside, such as the lifeboat, as well as instruments, documentation and other items related to maritime activities.

Nowadays, it serves as one of the branches of the Sant Feliu de Guíxols History Museum. Visitors can learn about how rescue operations were organised and how sailors’ lives were protected in an often unpredictable maritime environment.

Porta de la Finca Miralles is one of Antoni Gaudí’s lesser-known works in Barcelona. It was built in 1901 on Passeig de Manuel Girona and formed part of the perimeter wall of industrialist Hermenegild Miralles’ estate, a property that no longer exists.

Only the entrance gate and a section of the wall remain from the original complex. The entrance gate is built of stone and finished with white trencadís and a wrought-iron railing that imitates reptile skin. The gateway features a large leaf-shaped arch surrounded by undulating shapes that appear to flow as if they were organic. The entrance is adorned with a distinctive three-dimensional wrought-iron cross. To one side, a smaller gate with its original railing has also been preserved.

Today, the gateway leads onto the quiet Carrer Francesc Carbonell street and has become a fully integrated part of the neighbourhood’s urban landscape. The site was restored in 2000 and also features a sculpture of Antoni Gaudí, by Joaquim Camps, which commemorates the architect’s legacy here.