The capital of the Alt Empordà is known worldwide as the place where Salvador Dalí was born and died. The family home of this genius from the Empordà can be found here, a space that unveils the artist’s life trajectory, but also the Dalí Theatre-Museum, his own creation which allows visitors to grasp his artistic career through his works.
Beyond its connections with Dali, Figueres stands out as the main economic, cultural and commercial centre of the Empordà, and that’s why it’s well worth taking a stroll there. Its Rambla dates back to 1828, when the River Galligants was covered. Years later, many families of the local bourgeoisie built their houses there, in different architectural styles, such as Casa Puig Soler, Casa Cusí or Casa Caselles.
This artery of the city also features different sculptures that honour prominent figures from Figueres. The city’s first monument paid homage to Narcís Monturiol, who invented the submarine. It was inaugurated in 1918 and can be found on the lower part of the Rambla. Frederic Marès is the artist behind the monuments dedicated to King James I —who declared Figueres a royal city and granted it the town charter— and his chronicler, Ramon Muntaner, also located on the Rambla. The monument honouring Pep Ventura, however, promoted by the Foment de la Sardana entity, was erected in the Presidente Tarradellas square.
It’s also worth visiting the El Jardí Municipal Theatre, located in the building that was known as the Cine Teatro Jardí at the beginning of the 20TH century and was the most important performance hall in Figueres until the sixties, or the old prison, an eclectic-style building which opened in 1917 and served as a prison until 2014. It’s now an area for economic and social promotion. To continue your journey back through the city’s past, the Casino Menestral Figuerenc is a must. It fills almost a whole block of houses and stands out due to its playful asymmetric shapes.
The San Fernando Castle is the most extensive monument in Catalonia and the largest walled fortress in Europe. Along with the Arcos aqueduct, it’s one of the most notable elements of heritage in the city. To round off your trip, it’s well worth visiting the Museum of the Empordà, the cultural driving force of the region, and the Toy Museum of Catalonia, which exhibits over 4,000 pieces from far and near and from all eras related to the world of games.
A proposal brought to you in collaboration with
Descobrir magazine.
