Immerse yourself in the works of Dali at the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres

Built right in the centre of Figueres, the look of the Dalí Theatre-Museum is immediately striking: how can you fail to be astonished by the giant eggs enthroned above the red façade, accompanied by gilded statues? And even then, the outside is nothing compared to the inside of the building. Welcome to the wacky, zany world of Salvador Dali!

The Theatre-Museum was entirely created and fitted out by Dali himself, in the grounds of the old Figueres theatre (hence the name) destroyed by fire. A symbolic place in many ways for the artist, who was born in Figueres and baptised in the church opposite: it was in this theatre that his very first exhibition was held in 1919.

It took Dali more than 10 years to complete his Theatre-Museum project, which was inaugurated in 1974. It was an immediate success, and since its creation the site has always been one of the 3 most visited museums in Spain!

Visitors are invited into the disconcerting world of Dali, who conceived his museum as a surrealist, theatrical and labyrinthine work, where symbolism is obviously omnipresent: quite a programme! Several of the painter's most famous works are on display here, including canvases, but also objects, images, furniture and decorations - in short, a whole surprising world to discover.

Figueres isn't a big city, and doesn't have many tourist attractions other than the Dali Theatre-Museum, but don't be fooled: the latter attracts a huge number of people, as it is one of the most visited museums in the country.

Ideally, it's best to book your tickets and visit time on the Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation website, otherwise you'll be faced with a long queue. Especially on gloomy days, when tourists leave the beaches to visit the museum and get out of the bad weather! It's easy to get carried away into Dalí's world through the Theatre-Museum, but for those who want to go further in understanding the symbolism in the artist's work, a guided tour is recommended (available in French): tickets can be booked in the same way as a normal ticket.

The Dalí Theatre-Museum: Plaça Gala i Salvador Dalí, 5, 17600 Figueres

• +34 972 677 500
• reserves@fundaciodali.org
• Opening times of the Dalí Theatre-Museum: April-September: 9am-8pm
• October-March: 10.30am-6pm
• Last admission 45 minutes before closing time.
• Prices of the Dalí Theatre-Museum: January to June: full price €15, concessions €10
• July to August: full price €20, concessions €13
• September to December: full price €17, concessions €11
• Guided tour: €25

A visit to the Dalí Theatre-Museum is an opportunity to leave the coast and its beaches behind and explore the hinterland, if only for a day. It's easy to devote the morning to discovering Dali. Take the opportunity to wander around Figueres city centre, which is surprisingly modern: the city was largely rebuilt after the bombings of the Spanish Civil War. As a result, charm is not Figueres' speciality, although it does boast an original Toy Museum, as well as Europe's largest fortress, Sant Ferran Castle.

On the way home, it's a good idea to linger a while in the beautiful wine-growing region of Alt Empordà, along the Empordà Wine Route. Plan to stop off at one or more of the wineries to taste the famous local vintages, available in red, white and sweet wines.

The temptation to rent accommodation in the countryside, for a night or more, is great: away from the hustle and bustle of the coast even in season, the beaches of the Costa Brava less than an hour's drive away, a completely different way to spend your holiday in the region.