Environment

The Aiguamolls de l’Empordà is located between the mouths of the rivers Muga and Fluvià, just a few minutes from Somnis de l’Empordà and is a delight for nature lovers and birdwatchers. Highly recommended for people who need to relax and forget about the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The natural park covers an area of 4,729 hectares and is the second largest in Catalonia. Birds are the main protagonists of the park, as the Aiguamolls become their resting place and refuge. There are 329 species of birds (many of them protected and of great beauty), including the white stork, mallard duck, grey heron, coot, etc. The best times to observe them are early in the morning and late in the afternoon. A good pair of binoculars will be of great help to observe the birds, but don’t worry if you don’t have them, you can rent them at the information centre.

Enter the surrealist world of Salvador Dalí by following in his footsteps through the Dalinian Triangle. Surround yourself with art, genius and eccentricity.

The Dalinian Triangle is formed by the municipalities of Figueres, Púbol and Portlligat, 10km, 27km and 36km respectively from Somnis de l’ Empordà.

Salvador Dalí is considered by many to be a genius, by others a madman or an eccentric… but what is undisputed is that he was one of the greatest exponents of surrealist art in the world. His creative activity, apart from painting, was also evident in cinema, design and writing, fusing the character, the work and turning him into a provocateur. We suggest you follow in the footsteps of Salvador Dalí.

The Dalí Theatre-Museum was designed by Dalí himself and offers visitors a unique and captivating experience within the surrealist world of the painter. The tour through the rooms allows us to observe his early artistic experiences, surrealism, nuclear mysticism and his passion for science until we reach the works of his last years. (If you visit the Dalí Museum in August, it is open at night and with a guide. It is an experience not to be missed.

• The Dalí House-Museum was built on a former fishermen’s huts in Portlligat (Cadaques). Inside, it has a labyrinthine structure where it is easy to get lost and is decorated with a collection of objects that he collected throughout his life. Among his rooms, you can see his workshop, the library, the rooms where he spent his daily life, the garden and the swimming pool.
• Púbol is the village where Dalí bought the 14th century medieval castle as a gift to his wife and muse Gala. It was Dalí himself who was in charge of decorating the interior with antiques, romantic and baroque symbolism. As a curiosity, it is worth mentioning that only those who had a written invitation could visit it, even Dalí himself needed it. From 1982 onwards, Dalí retired from public life due to the death of his muse Gala, and the Gala-Dalí Castle became his last workshop and the mausoleum of his beloved.

Sant Martí d’Empuries is a beautiful medieval walled village located 13 km from Somnis de l’Empordà, a jewel where there are no more than 40 inhabitants, it has a beautiful beach with the remains of the Greek dock where you can contemplate magical sunsets, there is a coastal path that goes from St. Martí to l’Escala and the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Empuries, which is one of the most visited sites in Catalonia and the most important in Spain. The ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Empuries are the most visited archaeological site in Catalonia and one of the most important in Spain, classified by UNESCO as one of the most beautiful in the world.

El Cap de Creus se encuentra a 45 km de Somnis de l´ Empordà. It is formed by cliffs and rocks that contrast with the beautiful hidden coves, Cala Fredosa and Cala Tavallera are some of the most spectacular. This area stands out for its scenic beauty and great biological and ecological diversity. From the Far del Cap de Creus you will be able to contemplate part of the park’s vast extension.

One of the most important monuments of Cap de Creus is the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, which dates back to the 10th century and is surprisingly beautiful.

Perelada Castle is located 19 km from Somnis de l’ Empordà. It is a medieval fortress from the 14th century flanked by two imposing towers and surrounded by a lake, with 8 hectares of magical gardens. During the summer months the castle becomes the perfect setting for the Perelada Festival. The castle houses a casino, a Michelin-starred restaurant, one of the largest private libraries in Catalonia and a museum.