Museums and Various Attractions outside Girona. Most of these are in the Costa Brava area, both inland and coastal locations.
The Dali Theatre Museum (Museu Dali), Pl. Gala-Salvador Dali, 5, Figueres. Tel. 972 501 666
Built on the site of a former theatre it was opened in 1974 and contains a big and varied collection of this famous artists work.
Toy Museum of Catalonia, Hotel Paris, Sant Pere 1, Fiqueres tel 972 504 585. With over 5,000 toys on display and a section with toys, photo’s and momentos’ that belonged to the famous painter Dali. www.mjc.cat
Museum of Fishing, (Museu de la Pesca) Palamos Tel.972 600 550.
The Magic House, Xevi Collection, Sta. Cristina d’Aro Tel 972 837 209.
Billed as ‘a museum of the magical and curious’. It’s all been collected by an illusionist called Xevi during a long international career. It contains magic tricks, curiousities, photo’s all inside an old Catalan house.
Municipal museum, Tossa de Mar, Pl. Roig l Soler. Tel. 972 340 709.
Pottery Museum, La Bisbal, C. 6 d’Octubre, Tel. 972 642 067.
History of Toys Museum (Museu d’Historia de la Joguina Tomas Pla. Collection) St. Feliu de Guixols, Rambla Vidal 48-50, Tel. 972 822 249. Mostly Spanish made toys (3,500) made between 1860-1960, entry 3.50€ under 10 freewww.museudelajoguina.cat
Archaeological Museum of Catalunya, Puig de Sant Andre, Ullastret tel. 972 179 058. An important Iberian settlement 2,500 years ago, open 10-8 but closed Mondays. The museum also has another site at Empuries once an ancient port citywww.mac.es
Citadel Museum, Roses tel 972 151 466. History of Roses through the ages, from Palaeolithic times to the present and an exhibition entitled ‘The Sea of Poseidon’.
Cork Museum, C/ Tarongeta 31, Palafrugell, tel 972 303 998. Learn all about the cork making process.
Museum of the Monastery, Pl. de l’abadsia, St. Joan de les Abadesses (Ripolles) tel.972 720 043.
Archaeological Museum, Banyoles tel 972 572 361. Situated in the Pia Almoina palace it has many finds from early times.
Museu Albeniz, St.Roc, 22 Camprodon tel 972 741 166. Dedicated to the famous composer born in Camprodon it has many personal momentos and musical items.
Museu del Bonsai, Ctra. Girona-Palamos, P.O. Box 135 La Bisbal d’Emporda tel. 972 630 630. www.bonsais.org
The Castell de Peralada museum, Placa del Carme, Peralada tel 972 53 81 25.
Barcelona Zoo, Parc de la Ciutadella tel 93 225 67 80 open from 10-5 in winter and 10-7 in summer www.zoobarcelona.com
Fancy diving with sharks in Barcelona? You will however need a valid diving qualification tel 93 221 74 74 www.aquariumbcn.com
Catalunya en Miniatura, Torrelles de Llobregat tel 93 689 09 60www.catalunyaenminiatura.com
The Automobile collection of Salvador Claret, Ctra. Nacional 11, km.698, 17410 Sils La selva www.museuautomobilsclaret.com
Tuesday to saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-2pm closed Mondays. tel 972 853 036
Butterfly Park, La Mugueta, Carretera de Castello a Epuriabrava 17486, Castello d’Empuries. tel 972 45 07 61
Museu de la Tecnica de l’Emporda, C/dels Fossos, Figueres www.mte.cat tel.972 508 820
ParcArt. In Cassa de la Selva quite near Girona. It has over 159 outdoor, modern, contemporary sculptures. Check website for summer and winter opening timeswww.parcart.net
Museum of Miniatures and Micro-miniatures, Pl. Prat de Sant Pere 15, Besalu. Check website for summer and winter opening timeswww.museuminiaturesbesalu.com
Volcano Museum (museu dels volcans). Av. Santa Coloma 43, Olot. Tel.972 26 67 62 www.olot.cat/cultura
Casa Museu Can Trincheria, C/ Sant Esteve 29, Olot. A patrician’s home from the 18th C. with period furniture and wall decorations. www.olot.cat/cultura
Casino’s:
Casino Peralada. Castell Peralada tel. 972 53 81 25 www.casino-peralada.com
Barcelona based museums and cultural places
Art & Nature www.artmontjuic.cat
National Museum of Art www.mnac.cat
Cinemas & Theatres
Girona Cinemas, Theatres and Libraries
Girona has its fair share of cinemas many which are multiplex and offer the latest Hollywood releases (in Spanish and/or Catalan).
Girona Cinemas.
Truffaut, Known as a bit of an ‘art-house’ place for the smaller budget foreign films rather than the Hollywood kind.
C. Portal Nou, 7 Tel. 972 225 044
Albeniz
C.Jeroni Real de Fontclara, 2-4 Tel. 972 410 110 www.cinemesalbeniz.com
Albeniz Placa
Pl. Jordi de Sant Jordi, s/n Tel. 972 410 660
I’ve tried this place with my kids, entry price is the same for both adults and kids, €5.50. It’s got 13 screens and TV screens outside give you the starting times of all the films and how many seats are available. The seats are comfortable and even have drinks holders.
Lauren
Pl. de Salt, 1. Poligon Ind. Mas Xirgu Tel. 972 234 942
Oscar
C. Pont de la Barca, 12-14 Tel. 972 207 152 www.cinesoscar.com
Espai Girones
Girona’s only shopping mall located in Salt, very near Girona.
Girona Theatres
The main tourist office in the old town Rambla is often the best place to go and find out what’s currently on offer in terms of Concerts and Plays in Girona. Ask at the desk or look through the leaflet stands.
Sala La Planeta
Pg. Canalejas, 6 Tel.972 207 754
Teatre de Salt
Pl. Sant Jaume, Salt Tel.972 402 004
Teatre de Sant Narcis
Pl. Assumpcio, 27 (centre civic) Tel.972 237 063
Teatre Municipal
Pl. del Vi, 1 Tel.972 419 019. Behind the town hall (ajuntament) building. The interior reminded me very much of an English theatre, plenty of plush, red upholstery. I went to see a play in Catalan about St George and the dragon. He’s called Sant Jordi here and it was staged for schoolkids. A ticket office is located just outside.
Girona Libraries
Biblioteca de Taiala, next to the primary school.
Ctra. Taiala, 75 Tel.972 213 315
Biblioteca Ernest Lluch
C. Saragossa, 27 Tel.972 426 368
Biblioteca Just M. Casero
Pl. de l’Om, 1 Tel.972 211 370
Biblioteca Salvador Allende
C. Montseny, 74-78 Tel.972 232 715
Biblioteca Publica de Girona
Pl. Hospital, 6, Casa de Cultura Tel.972 202 25
Casa de Cultura-Tomas de Lorenzana. Has musical events like piano recitals (free), a library and exhibition halls. Walk inside, turn right and go through some glass doors, there’s an information desk to you right and a long table on the left with many different leaflets.
Pl. Hospital, 6 Tel.972 202 013
Girona Civic and Cultural Centres (Centre Civics I Culturals).
Centre Civic de Pedret.
C. Pedret, 152-156, baixos Tel.972 205 244
Centre Civic Onyar.
C. Camp de la Plana, 13 Tel.972 208 955
Centre Civic Pla de Palau.
C. Saragossa, 27 Tel.972 426 390
Centre Civic Pont Major.
C. Pont Major, 67-73 Tel.972 205 244
Centre Civic Sant Narcis.
Pl. Assumpcio, 27 Tel.972 237 063
Centre Civic Santa Eugenia.
C. Sta. Eugenia, 146 Tel.972 245 111
Centre Cultura La Merce.
Punt de lectura Torre Gironella
Grup torre Gironella, 102 Tel 003 356
Dancing venues.
Sala de Ball de Girona (next to the City Arms Pub) is used as a venue for Salsa and other types of dances and Spanish/Latino dance bands often play here. There’s also a place in Pedret, in the north of Girona which is along the river Ter which does Salsa nights…
Girona Civic and Cultural Centres (Centre Civics I Culturals).
Centre Civic de Pedret.
C. Pedret, 152-156, baixos Tel.972 205 244
Centre Civic Onyar.
C. Camp de la Plana, 13 Tel.972 208 955
Centre Civic Pla de Palau.
C. Saragossa, 27 Tel.972 426 390
Centre Civic Pont Major.
C. Pont Major, 67-73 Tel.972 205 244
Centre Civic Sant Narcis.
Pl. Assumpcio, 27 Tel.972 237 063
Centre Civic Santa Eugenia.
C. Sta. Eugenia, 146 Tel.972 245 111
Centre Cultura La Merce.
Run by the local ajuntament (town hall) it hosts musical and artistic events, and also runs art and sculpture courses. My kids attend an excellent weekly 2hr. art class here, which only costs 150€ ea. and runs from Sept. to June.
Pda. de la Merce, 12 Tel.972 223 305.
L’estacio. Espai Jove (for young people, pic.below) C. Santa Eugenia, 17 Tel.972 222 565
Llar d’avis de Taiala.
C.de la Modeguera Gran, 2 Tel.972 227 627
Equipaments Civics de Fontajau-Isidre Molar.
Rambla Xavier Cugat, 2-4 Tel.972 201 669
Centre Cultural de Caixa de Girona, Fontana d’ Or.
C. Ciutadans, 19 Tel.972 209 836
Auditori de Caixa de Girona.
C. Creu, 31 Tel.972 182 100
Auditori Narcis de Carreras. Fundacio “la Caixa”. I think access is only by invitation. I’ve been here a couple of times with my school kids, to a puppet show in their theatre on the top floor at xmas once, and then a kids workshop about the environment.
C. Sta. Clara, 11 Tel.972 200 666
Auditori Palau de Congressos, Passeig de la Devesa, 35 Tel. 872 080 709 (behind the Firas de Girona building). A recently built venue for concerts that includes all musical tastes and styles. The place to go for musical events like classical music, tickets can be bought from the box office outside the building or, from a local La Caixa ATM. I tried to see a concert of Strauss music but it was fully booked so I reckon you need to book early for most events here, which are displayed on a billboard outside.
Caseta de la Devesa, by the entrance to the small park area, on the edge of Devesa park. C/Passeig de la Devesa, 1, Tel.972 221 866.
Salvador Dali
The ‘Dali Triangle’ in geographical terms is what some tourist books describe as the three most important places where Dali lived and worked. They include Port Lligat on the coast, Figueres City and the inland village of Pubol.
Figueres has the Theatre-Museum Dali, designed by him, with a geodesic dome above its stage which houses the works of Salvador Dali and other artists like Greco. Numerous exhibits reflect the different periods of the artists career eg. the courtyard has the ‘Rainy Cadillac’. This also the place where he is buried and it’s the 3rd most visited museum in Spain.
The coastal town of Port Lligat is where the artist had a home which is now known as the ‘Dali-Gala House Museum’ containing an interesting Baroque altarpiece.
The Casa Museu Castell Gala Dali de Pubol.
Pubol is a small village in the Baix Emporda region is near Girona and we had a chance to go there one summer weekend, to visit the castle of Pubol bought by Dali in 1969 for his wife Gala. The large mansion is in the centre of Pubol with its French style garden (some interesting stuff here!) and where she took refuge and where Dali himself stayed briefly after her death in 1982.
It’s been a museum since 1996 thoughtfully re-created with many fascinating examples of his flamboyant work, and where you can experience the ambience in which they lived. Walk through rooms that they both decorated and furnished, plus its top floor has a gallery of former haute-couture dresses that Gala wore, and a Cadillac car in the basement! We’ve been here and it’s well worth a visit.
How to get there? From Girona follow the signs for Palamos (C-255) heading east towards the coast, and come off at the sign for La Pera. This website is also a good site for Dali lovers. www.salvador-dali.org/en_index.html
Rafael Maso
Rafael Maso was a famous Girona architect who designed many buildings here.
The Punxa building with it’s green-tiled roof in C/ Sta. Eugenia
