Find a train from Calella to Figueres. How to get from Calella to Figueres Souvenirs and food
Barcelona is a very popular tourist city. Many people like the opportunity to combine a holiday near the sea with interesting excursions around the city, the opportunity to admire the fabulous architecture of Antoni Gaudi and stroll along the famous La Ramdra street.
But not everyone knows that very close to Barcelona (only about an hour by comfortable train), in the small town of Figueres, there is the Salvador Dali Theater-Museum, a visit to which will bring true pleasure and give unforgettable emotions.
How to get from Barcelona to Figueres on your own
1. Before Figueres Most tourists travel by train from Barcelona train station, which can be reached by metro. The station is called Barcelona Sants(intersection of green, gray and blue lines). You can see the Barcelona metro map here: www.metrobarcelona.es/en/maps.html.
2. You can buy a ticket directly at the station from the vending machines or from the cashier. To make it more convenient to plan your travel time, you can preview the train schedule on the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com. In the search menu you select from - BARCELONA SANTS, Where- FIGUERES VILAFANT.
3. There are different train options. It is best to choose high-speed trains AVE and AVAN in terms of time and comfort. Then the travel time will be only 55 minutes. Ticket price starts from 21 euros (there are discounts on some flights). Trains run very frequently.
Photo: Transition from the platform to the station.
4. So, you arrive at the station Figueres Vilafant. By the way, during the transition from the platform to the station, you can take a funny photo by holding Salvador Dali himself by the mustache. Then from the station to the Dali Museum you can follow the signs on foot (about 20 minutes), take the L1 bus from the Pedreres stop to Dr. Pasteur or take a taxi (it will take you there in 5 minutes) to save energy for visiting the museum.
Opening hours of the Dali Museum and ticket prices
Photo: Entrance to the Salvador Dali Museum.
The theater-museum is open to visitors on all days, with the exception of Christmas and New Year (January 1), as well as all Mondays that do not fall on a holiday or pre-holiday. It is better to check the opening hours on the museum’s website: they vary depending on the quarter.
It is best to buy a ticket to the museum on the website, then you will avoid having to stand in line at the entrance to the museum. Please note that the ticket indicates the date and strict entry time interval. In this regard, it is wise to have at least a small reserve.
The ticket price for adults is 14 euros, and traditional August night excursions with an offered glass of the Master's favorite champagne will cost 15 euros. Students and pensioners can visit the museum for 10 euros; children under 8 years old have free admission.
Included in the ticket price includes a visit to the Jewelry Museum in the same building.
Schedule: July-September - from 9.00 to 20.00, October - from 9:30 to 18.00, November-December from 10:30 to 18.00.
The exact address: Plaça Gala i Salvador Dalí, 5, 17600 Figueres, Spain
A little about the museum
This name - Theater-Museum is due to the fact that the building in which the complex dedicated to Dali was opened was indeed previously a theater. The building was dilapidated after the war and looked more like a frame. But Dali immediately liked it - the artist imagined how he would hold musical performances here.
Photo: Salvador Dali Theater-Museum inside.
In 1970, reconstruction of the premises began. The silhouette of the theater symbolizes international pop art to this day. The construction of the geodesic dome, which is the main focus of the museum, was carried out by Emilio Perez Pinheiro. In 1984, the Dalí Museum began to be covered with loaves of bread, and the theater's exterior was completed with giant eggs. Salvador Dali himself spoke about his passion for these products as elements that could be used in his works.
In October 1983, the Salvador Dali Museum was combined with the neighboring building - the Gorgott House. Part of the ensemble was the Galetea Tower: it was Dali’s residence at the end of his life.
By order of the artist, the Salvador Dali Museum also became the place of his burial (1989). The Great Spaniard's last wish was to merge with his creation. The genius dreamed that everyone who entered his museum would leave the walls of this house with a feeling of being full and “satiated” with art. So that surrealism permeates every centimeter of the building. And he succeeded.
Let me remind you that when planning a trip to Spain, we chose the city of Caleia, Calella, located on the coast 60 km northeast of Barcelona, as our base camp. The city has a railway station, which allows for excursions to the surrounding area. So, using the local train, we have already visited Barcelona once (read the story). Now we want to go on an excursion to Girona.
Girona is located northeast of Calea (Calella) inland. There is a direct railway line from Barcelona to Girona (line R11), which unfortunately does not pass through Calella (Calella). You can get from Calea to Girona only with a change at the station Ma?anet Massanes(see diagram on the left). The red circles on the diagram indicate the stations that interest us: Calella – Ma?anet Massanes – Girona. The direct train from Barcelona to Girona is quite rare. Time windows reach 3 hours. Therefore, in order not to “hang around” at the transfer station waiting for a direct train to Girona, you need to have a train schedule on line R11 (direct railway line). In other words, from Kalea (Kalella) to the transfer station Ma?anet Massanes we need to arrive shortly before the arrival of the train from Barcelona heading towards Girona on the direct line R11 at the same station.
Let's look at a fragment of the train schedule on line R11 (direct). According to the schedule, the train from Barcelona will arrive at Ma?anet Massanes station at 10:04.
Now let's look at a fragment of the train schedule on our R1 line. If we leave Calea at 9:28, we will arrive in Ma?anet Massanes at 9:57.
In total, we have 7 minutes at our disposal: the train to Girona will arrive at the same platform, only on a different track. It is possible that he may be a little late. Above I gave an example of weekend schedules, which are more “strict” in terms of time connections. Now we get on the train and go to the Ma?anet Massanes stop.
After 30 minutes we arrive at the final station Ma?anet Massanes. In our case, we had to wait about 40 minutes for the train to Girona. There were no other morning options. In total, about 20 people arrived for the transfer. The Ma?anet Massanes station is a rather remote place, remote from the centers of civilization - just a station in the forest. It has a small building containing a waiting room, a ticket office and a small cafe. From Kalei (Kalella), two more couples of elderly Englishmen were traveling with us in the carriage. In Blanes, a gang of Spanish youth loaded onto the carriage. About six guys and girls. They behaved noisily and, as we would say, defiantly, but peacefully. Judging by the “Iroquois” on their heads, they could be classified as a dying breed of punks. So, at the Ma?anet Massanes station in the waiting room, one of them took a recumbent form, raising his legs, resting them against the wall. All this was accompanied by approving cries of boyfriends and girlfriends. Less than five minutes later, a policeman appeared in the hall, a tall fellow, like “Uncle Styopa.” He said something quietly to the cheerful company and they immediately calmed down. The “recumbent” even sat down on the bench. Before the train arrived in Girona, the cheerful company showed no more signs of life. “Uncle Styopa” also brought order to the two girls. When we arrived at Ma?anet Massanes station, on the next platform (towards Barcelona) a couple of girlfriends in evening dresses caught our attention. Two friends were sleeping peacefully on a bench, putting their high-heeled shoes under their heads. Apparently they were not strong enough to get home. While we were wandering around the platform while waiting for the train, they managed to wake up, smoke and move to another bench. They also didn’t like that shop for some reason. They eventually calmed down, sitting on the edge of the platform. The morning coolness of the asphalt surface of the platform brought them peace. Not so! “Uncle Styopa” brought order here too, appearing out of nowhere. The waiting audience watched the scene from afar. The policeman said something to the girls, they verbally resisted, but submitted to the force: they stood up from the edge of the platform and left the station. Before the train arrived, the policeman walked sedately along the platform with his hands behind his back. Seeing the approaching train from Barcelona, I asked him: “Girona?” He shook his head: “No.” Indeed, the train passed by. When the second train arrived, he nodded - yours. These events fit into 40 minutes of waiting for the train to Girona at Ma?anet Massanes station.
Another half hour and we get off at Girona station (Girona, Girona). There is a tourist information desk at Girona railway station. It is located in a visible place - just look carefully around. Be sure to take a city map there. Leaving the station building, we head to Plaza Catalunya. For most tourists arriving by train in Girona (Girona), Plaza Catalunya is like the “gate” to the Old Quarter of Girona (Barri Vell, in Catalan) - the most interesting place for tourists, the “highlight” of the excursion program (see diagram below) .
The tourist card of Girona (Gerona) on the city’s official website is similar to the one issued at the tourist counter at the train station. Check it out in advance.
Sunday morning - on the way to the Old Quarter of Girona (Barri Vell), we meet rare passers-by on the streets, mostly tourists. The city is practically extinct. From Girona station, along Bailen street we get to Barcelona street. We turn onto Sant Antoni M. Claret street, and from there it’s a stone’s throw to Plaza Catalunya.
From Girona station, along Bailen street (on the right in the photo) we get to Barcelona street (on the left)
And so we come out to Plaza Catalunya: it’s pretty deserted here on this sunny Sunday morning. Plaza Catalunya is a very wide bridge over the Onyar River, which divides the city of Girona into two parts. To the north, along the river, about fifty meters away, there is the Port de Pedra bridge, on which the launching pad for the green excursion train is located. Anyone who wishes can take a sightseeing tour on this train “from Romashkov” - it travels throughout the Old Quarter. The duration of the excursion is 30 minutes.
Schedule - every 45 minutes from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00
Ticket price (adult) – 4.00 €
Ticket price (up to 10 years) – 3.50 €
Girona, Plaza Catalunya, at the same time a bridge over the Onyar river.
Fat fish splash in the dry Onyar River. As they say and write in guidebooks, tourists often feed the fish. So they are not in danger of starvation; But the fish would like more water in the Onyar River. We looked at the fish - we went to the Old Quarter.
Girona, Plaça Catalunya, fish splashing in the Onyar River.
And while the memories and impressions are fresh, I decided to write a review for those who would like to visit the Salvador Dali Museum-Theater in Figueres.
I admit, I am not an expert or lover of this genre of art, but my interest took its toll...since I heard a lot of enthusiastic reviews.
When on vacation, I very rarely take group excursions. Only if it is not possible to get to your destination on your own. So this time I went to Figueres on my own from the city of Calella.
How to get from Calella to Figueres on your own. A point for those who want to visit the museum and town on their own.
There is a direct train to Figueros. It runs rarely, on schedule approximately once every two hours. Round trip fare for September 2014. 15.40 euros per person. You can buy a ticket either from a machine or at the box office by saying "Calella-Figueres-Calella". The drive from Kaleia is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. (they didn’t exactly time it). To get to the Dali Museum before crowds of tour groups flock there, I advise you to leave early. We left at 7:28. When exiting the train in Figueres, in the hall on the left there will be an information desk where you can ask for a map of the city (free of charge). There, upon request, they will explain to you how to get to the Dali Museum (unfortunately not in Russian), or they will even draw you =). At the same time, ask how to get to the San Fernando Fortress (Castillo de San Fernando). If you have any strength left after the Dali Museum, I advise you to visit (entrance 3 euros with audio guide) =). We walked from the station to the Dali Museum in about 15 minutes.
The cost of visiting the museum is 12 euros per person. This price includes a visit to the main museum, as well as a jewelry exhibition (separate entrance on the other side of the building). Since we arrived early, before 10 o’clock, there weren’t many people... the excursion groups had not yet arrived, and those who arrived quickly dispersed into the halls on their own. We wandered around calmly for about 40 minutes, periodically meeting the same single tourists.
As soon as you enter the first exhibition hall, you get the impression that you have found yourself in another reality....into someone's dream.... because what is presented there defies logic...
For this exposition, there are quite a lot of plants in this room, and there are many “golden” figures in the walls. Impressed.
Some of Dali's works subconsciously caused unpleasant sensations in me.
And some, on the contrary, were pleasantly surprised.
In his will, Salvador Dali ordered to be buried in this museum and his will was carried out.
Leaving the museum, I was filled with conflicting feelings. At the same time there was delight, hostility, misunderstanding. Yes, I am neither an expert nor an amateur, but the impressions from visiting the museum are deep and contradictory. On the one hand, I can say that I liked it, on the other, I didn’t.
I liked the exhibition of jewelry based on S. Dali’s sketches. The work is done very beautifully, but sometimes it also evokes conflicting feelings.
TOURISTS' ANSWERS:
From Calella, as well as from other towns in the Costa Brava resort area, you can go on a trip to Catalonia. Not only is it possible, but it is necessary. The list of excursion tours and routes can be found out from the hotel guide, or you can purchase them from excursion companies directly in Calella, of which there are many. True, give preference to trusted tour operators, such as Tez tour, coral. I bought tours on the street several times and was not deceived. Comfortable buses, guides with excellent information on the subject of the tour. There are no delays, everything is on time and the groups are formed exclusively from Russian-speaking tourists. By purchasing a tour outside the hotel, you can save about 15-20 euros and not lose, so to speak, in quality.
Among the most popular excursions from Calella are a trip to Barcelona, Girona, Aventura Park, Nice, a monastery on Mount Montserrat, Andorra, and you can also take a shopping tour to the famous village of La Roca Village. Due to the fact that my vacation was planned for 10 days, of which I wanted to allocate time not only for travel, but also for the sea, I was able to go on four tours. It was possible to travel independently. There are also trains and buses from Calella, you could rent a car, but I found a more convenient way to travel - an organized excursion. To each his own.
They offer several tours to Barcelona that differ in content and, accordingly, duration. This tour is named by tour operators as panoramic Barcelona. You can simply explore the iconic places of the “pearl” of Catalonia, or add to your inspection a visit to the famous “singing” (or mystical) fountains. I chose the second option. The cost of the excursion is 35 euros.
Upon arrival in Barcelona, the tourist bus stops at Plaza Catalunya - the main square of the city, from where not one, but nine streets originate. They ray out from the center. One of them is the walking boulevard La Rambla. You have to walk along it. You can go with a guide or move around on your own. The boulevard itself is divided into five boulevards (parts). This is the boulevard of flowers, Capuchins, teachings, St. Monica and Catalanes. For example, Catalanes Boulevard got its name from a small drinking fountain of the same name from the 19th century.
There are many living statues on the Boulevard des Capuchins, presented by actors from the nearby theater. They always attract the attention of tourists not only with spectacular performances, but also with no less spectacular costumes. There are many souvenirs sold on the boulevard.
At the end of the boulevard you will see the Columbus Monument. This is where the Marine Boulevard begins.
The creations of the architect Antonio Gaudi are known all over the world. Without his urban masterpieces, Barcelona would probably not be so attractive. It’s a pity that there was no time to stop near the famous Gaudi houses - Casa Batllo, La Mila. We managed to see and photograph them right on the move from the bus.
Park Güell is no less outstanding creation of the master. Here, as if in a fairy tale, there are buildings of bizarre shapes, the roofs of which are covered as if with glaze. The cascading fountains are crowned with the head of a salamander.
They are made using colored mosaics, which are actually everywhere here. The guide also talked about the famous bench - Gaudi's invention.
Its shape most accurately matches the curves of the human spine in a sitting position. It's really comfortable to sit on. You can take a walk in the park. Free time given.
How can you explore Barcelona without visiting the famous long-term construction project - the Sagrada Familia Cathedral? A truly grandiose building. It can be viewed from all sides, because each façade of the building has its own individual design directly related to biblical themes. There are facades of Christmas, passion and resurrection. A truly impressive sight. Completion of construction is scheduled for 2016. And the cathedral has been under construction for almost 130 years.
Towards evening we were taken to the area of singing fountains. The show itself starts at 8 pm, but since there are a lot of tourists, it is better to arrive earlier to find a good place. The area occupied by the fountains is huge.
They are located on cascading platforms, each of which can be reached by escalator. Before the show started, we decided to explore the surroundings and get to the top fountain. The view from here is amazing. As soon as it got dark, the music began to flow. To the works of Bach and Tchaikovsky, the columns of water seemed to dance, forming different shapes that were not repeated.
The tourists present here showed their emotions, some by shouting, some by whistling. Taking photos near the fountain is problematic because it is impossible to stay dry.
I really enjoyed my trip to Barcelona, the impressions were excellent. Literally a couple of days later I returned to this city, but on my own. It is impossible to see all the charms and beauties of the city in one trip. I wanted to be here again and walk around the city in a more relaxed atmosphere.
The Dalí Theater-Museum cannot fail to evoke emotions.
I am not a fan of the artist’s work, but there is interest in his work. This is a man of genius, a dissenter, and he presents his vision and idea of the world and environment in a very extraordinary and original way. His works are creative, and his installations are generally like a riddle or puzzle that needs to be solved. There are no guided tours in the museum. Dali did not allow this, believing that each viewer should understand the essence of his masterpieces himself, without anyone’s help.
From the very beginning, the museum amazes with its originality. His famous installation at the entrance, which consists of a Cadillac, as well as the figure of Esther, who is chained to a pillar of car tires, pulling a Trojan column. There is a boat under the dome with drops of water hanging from it. Dali made them from condoms. The boat is a kind of symbol of freedom.
You can see a lot of images of Gala in the museum. For the artist, his wife became a muse. He often portrayed her, and sometimes in a very bizarre performance. It is worth seeing the enormous size of Gala's porter, whose face is covered in a circle, and whose figure is stylized in such a way that it is far from the ideal female form.
But in another version - a sculpture, Gala is shown in all its glory.
A lot can be said about the Dali Museum. It is truly unique and after visiting it you are left with very strong emotions. You need to see everything for yourself. The sarcophagus of the great artist is also located on the ground floor of the museum.
After Figueres, the tour continues to the Pubol Castle. Not far from the city. The castle is small, it dates back to the 11th century and Gaudi bought it in the last century for Gala. Here she lived alone.
The castle was furnished with the participation of the artist. His creations can be seen in the garden. There are his famous elephants on high legs, a fountain with Wagner heads.
Small garden, but very cozy. The castle has many rooms and halls. You will be shown the throne room, the bathroom, and Gala’s blue bedroom.
The history of the castle and the life of its mistress there is also remarkable, they will tell you about it, I will not tell all the details.
The tour ends at a winery with a shop attached to it. They offer to taste different wines. You can buy what you like. Really good wine, it will be a great gift for family and friends.
My impressions from all my trips around Catalonia are very positive. Catalonia is rich in history and worth seeing. Many places, architectural and cultural monuments attract the attention of tourists. True, it is still better to travel not in July. If you are planning an excursion tour, then it is better to visit Spain in May-June, or after the summer season.
Is the answer helpful?
Calella is very popular among tourists. The town is located in the Costa del Maresme area and is very conducive to a pleasant time on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as traveling to various destinations. Excursions are, of course, organized for tourists, but you can travel on your own if you wish. For example, I recommend making a trip to Barcelona yourself. In Calella, take the train, pay only 10 euros one way, and in just over an hour you will find yourself in the “pearl” of Catalonia. Here the choice of routes is yours. The train brings you to the station near Plaza Catalunya. This is the very first and iconic landmark of Barcelona. It is from this square that La Ramla Boulevard and Gracia Passage begin. Not far from here you can see the main cathedral of the city - the Holy Cross and Eulalia. Yes, it is he, and not the Sagrada de Familia Cathedral, that is such. Its Gothic spiers and rich ornamentation cannot fail to amaze. Right next to the cathedral you can buy souvenirs at the shops. Pay special attention to the image of St. Mercedes, who is the guardian of Barcelona. Personally, being interested in digetabulism (collecting decorative thimbles), I purchased another copy with the face of this saint.
As for La Rambla, it is definitely worth seeing. This is the same calling card of Barcelona as, say, Arbat in Moscow or Bolshaya Pokrovka in Nizhny Novgorod. Traveling around La Ramla should be done with extreme caution. there are a lot of pickpockets here, so you need to look around, but also behind your bags, and even better, leave your passport at the hotel and take a copy of it with you. It's more reliable. The boulevard is divided into five parts or boulevards, each of which has its own, so to speak, meaning. This is, for example, the Boulevard of Flowers and Paintings, but more interesting for tourists is the Boulevard of Capuchins. Here, actors and students from the local theater perform performances, or depict motionless statues that come to life when you place a coin next to them. Its value doesn't matter. You can limit yourself to one euro and see the process of the figure coming to life. The work of actors is very difficult.
At the very end of the boulevard you will see a monument to Christopher Columbus. The port part of Barcelona begins from this place. Then you can go back, but not along the boulevard, but along the adjacent streets, but then there is a high probability of moving away from the center, since the streets here do not run parallel, but diverge in rays. If you have planned an independent trip, you can combine a visit to the center of Barcelona with shopping. Near La Rambla there are many boutiques and mono-brand stores where you can make pleasant purchases during the discount period from mid-July to mid-August.
Tourist buses depart from Plaza Catalunya. It is difficult to see the entire city in a day, but if you use the services of such tours, specially organized for tourists, you will definitely be shown the most iconic sights of Barcelona. The cost of a city tour is approximately 25-30 euros. Your hotel guide will also offer a sightseeing tour of the city. You can use his services, but you will pay about twice as much, but the truth is that the trip will be directly from the hotel. If you want to save money, then go yourself, or, as an option, buy a tour directly to Calella from travel companies, of which there are quite a few in the city. There, the cost of the tour compared to hotel prices will be 10-15 percent lower.
As part of your sightseeing tours of Barcelona, you will definitely be shown the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, the construction of which is scheduled to be completed in 2016, the famous Park Güell, which attracts with its mosaic technique, as well as other famous architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi. Barcelona is a city that you will definitely want to see more than once. I also recommend visiting the singing fountains. The fountain show starts at 8 pm, but it’s better to arrive early, otherwise you won’t find a good place to view it. On the huge square there are cascading fountains, which perform all kinds of figures to the music of famous composers. The viewing effect is further enhanced by illumination. A very impressive sight. A large number of tourists gather here, so the public reacts to the next splash of the fountain in different languages. If you are traveling with a child, I assure you that what he sees will remain in his memory for a long time.
Another very educational excursion offered from Calella is Figueres, or rather a visit to the Salvador Dali Museum-Theater and the Pubol Castle, the residence of Dali’s wife, Gala. By the way, when traveling around Barcelona, you will certainly see the Dali Museum, but this is not at all the same when compared with Figueres. It was in this Catalan town near Girona that the famous surrealist artist was born, it was here that his first works were exhibited in the building of the local theater, which he later bought and organized a very creative and shocking museum here. Those who do not like Dali's work should still visit the museum, if only to understand and see another non-traditional museum organization. Everyone here will find something interesting and educational for themselves. This is what an artist is all about. Some consider him a genius, others consider him crazy. Not everyone can understand his work, but he did not strive to express everything in such a way that it was immediately obvious. Each of his works is a mystery and our mind will help to solve it. That is why Dali forbade conducting excursions in the museum, believing that every visitor should be imbued with his works, see the plots veiled by him in his works. There are many of his famous installations here, the first of which you will see immediately upon entering the first hall. This is a composition of a black Caddilac, a huge figure of Esther, who is chained to a pillar made of machine tires, and under the dome is a boat. This composition represents freedom. The boat sways under the influence of the wind and drops of water, the function of which is performed by condoms painted blue, begin to move.
Dali dedicated, so to speak, this boat to his wife Gala, whom he loved very much. On this boat his Gala went out to look for young gentlemen. He knew, but he forgave. By the way, the portrait of Gala is huge, in the next room. True, Gala is depicted in a very original way. Her images can be found in many of the artist’s works and most often they are far from realistic.
After visiting the museum, you will be taken to Pubol Castle, which Dali bought in the mid-20th century and gave to Gala. Here she lived alone, and Dali only visited her and only with the written permission of his wife. Figueres and Pubol Castle are not all components of the tour. Afterwards there will be another trip to a winery. There you can taste different varieties of Spanish wines and buy what you like. The cost of the tour itself was about 40 euros.