17 April, 2017
The pearl of the Costa Brava, Cadaques is a small fishing village located along the Spanish coast, two hours from Barcelona.
For a time considered the artists' capital of Spain, Cadaques has attracted the likes Picasso, Matisse, Duchamp and Salvador Dalí who made nearby Portlligat his home for over 50 years. Once only reachable by sea, Cadaques now has one road in and one road out, helping to maintain its untouched feel. Framed by the natural beauty of the Cap de Creus National Park and the Golf de Roses, the steep cobblestoned streets, white buildings and stunning sea views promise to enchant. It's easy to see why this tucked away spot has been a favourite of Catalonians and creatives alike for so many years.
Wild winds - known among locals as the "tramuntana" - dominate the coastal town in the winter and late spring. The best time to visit is between May and September when the wind has died down and the coast looks like a Dalí painting.
An artist, writer, photographer. You'll be walking in the footsteps of some of the greatest artists of the last century; it's best to come prepared with your best creative collaborators at hand.
An artist who visited Cadaques 20 years ago and never left.
A visit to Salvador Dali's house in nearby Portlligat. A 2o-minute walk from the centre of Cadaques, this idiosyncratic home - composed of seven interconnected buildings - has been turned into a museum open to the public. Lip-shaped couches sit inside the chalk-white walls adorned with signature Dalí eggs. Stroll through the library to the garden and take in the stunning Catalonian views that inspired some of Dalí's most famous landscapes.
A good pair of trainers; steep cobblestone streets prove unforgiving to heels and knees and as the primary mode of transportation is walking, a good pair of flat, comfortable shoes is a must.
Take a bus from Barcelona two hours north and enjoy the drive through the otherwise untouched landscape of the Cap de Creus National Park. Be warned, bus service is limited so plan accordingly.
