"Salvador Dali" Figueres by dlandt

Figueres Travel Guide: 129 reviews and 442 photos

My apologies to Ffigueres

My wife and I visited Figueres for one reason and one reason only, to visit the Museum of Salvador Dali. We made no effort to explore the town of Figueres because we were on a road trip and had to get back on the road and on to our next objective. This page is thus limited in scope and outlook solely to the museum and works of Salvador Dali. To those of you who would want to tell me I missed a lot by not visiting more of the City of Figueres, I can only say, "I know". Restraints of time and money often mean that I can't see everything I would like, or spend as much time in one place as t satisfy myself fully. I hope you can enjoy the pages and my impressions of Salavador Dali as much as I did.

Size and Scope

Lincoln

The Dali museum is really large. it has 21 rooms of his work, with only a scattering of works by other artists, all of which were Dali associates. Part of Dali's work specializes in optical illusions, like this picture seen here. It may look like Abraham Lincoln through the lens and from a distance, but up close it looks like a woman with outstretched arms with an esoteric backdrop. Dali the artist went through various phases in his lifetime, and explored different mediums as well.

In this picture you can also see a lot of people taking pictures. There will be crowds here, but even the schoolgroups seemed to be unusually well behaved.

Not all the works are impressive

B&W

Because the museum is so large, and is filled with so many of Dali's works, they have included a lot that are not quite as good. Some of the galleries that resemble halls are lined with black and white sketches. Half of the top floor is used to illustrate hand-sized prototypes that Dali used to plan larger works. I also suspect that some of the more prominently displayed works include what i would call "studies". These are pieces that Dali basically did to hone his skills, in the same way art students do. A piece done in this way will often have a title of "Arm" or "Fingers" and will be donein such a way that the artist draws an arm or finger, seeing what can be done with it.

Although these types of works aren't as impressive as Dali's more mature or famous pieces, i think it was right and proper for the museum to have carried them. They give a broader depth and deeper life too the life's work of the artist, allowing you to feel and see a broader spectrum of his life.

Pros and Cons

Pros:A huge assortment of work by one of the greatest modern artists
Cons:There must be some cons, but I don't know them all.
In a nutshell:I only went for the Salvador Dali exhibits

Last visit to Figueres: Mar 2005
Intro Updated Mar 28, 2005
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Reviews (6)

Room 11- Mae West - Part 2 Tourist Traps (2)

This is the same display from a different angle. It looks more or less like what you see when you look through the... more travel advice

Room 11 - Mae West Tourist Traps (2)

This is what you see after a long wait through a line which doesn't move very fast. Some people see the face of mae... more travel advice

Enter the Museum with an eager mind Things to Do (1)

Like I said in the introduction to this page, Dali used a number of different mediums to present his work. One of them,... more travel advice

The facade of the Dali museum Favorites (1)

I'm not sure why they chose to put the eggs on top of the museum, but this is the exterior. The entrance is behind and... more travel advice

Local Customs (1)
All languages are welcome

Transportation (1)
What to look for if you're searching for...

Travelogues (3)

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Comments (4)

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mindcrime Dec 26, 2012 at 3:55 AM

I agree! Mae West was just a waste of time :)
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Mikebb Nov 17, 2007 at 5:01 PM

Hi Dave, Great memories, we drove from Perpigan, over the Pyaranees to vist the museum in 1993. Such variety, Dali could put his mind to anything.
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matcrazy1 Mar 31, 2005 at 7:57 AM

Dave, you made wonderful pictures (in first travelogue especially) and your impressions on Dalis'a art are similar to mine, maybe more detailed.
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Maria250 Mar 26, 2005 at 9:29 AM

Already another WOW is your's isn't that an extra ordinary photograph with your wonderful wife!!! Dali would love it!! This view reminds me a lot of Diego Rivera the great muralist of Mexico.