Costa Brava road trip – old town Girona, seaside Cadaques and all the Dalí in between

Ah, Costa Brava – fresh green wheat fields, yellow rapeseed edged with poppies and views over the olive trees to the snow capped Pyrenees in the distance. These are the memories that we brought home from our recent Costa Brava road trip, staying in a rustic luxury villa with our hire car to explore a new place each day.

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Costa Brava by car

If you are staying in a villa as we were and want to see something of Costa Brava by car, you really need a hire car and ours was kindly provided by Auto Europe. The pickup and drop off at Girona airport was painless and we found that the roads easy to navigate, with much less traffic than we are used to in the overcrowded UK.

It really made driving Costa Brava a pleasure with passing fields full of wildflowers and yellow rapeseed edged with poppies. Of course in the high summer by the coast it might get a bit crazy, but away from the coast I suspect that even in high season these country roads are an easy drive.

The only thing I would advise with a hire car is to avoid the centre of older towns and village centres that are not really made for cars. In Girona or Cadaques, we found that when you get close to the centre it’s best to park in the first public car park you see and walk into the old centre.

Beware also of the small country villages which normally have a route that goes around them as well as a road that goes through them. The streets can be incredibly narrow, as we found out accidentally on a couple of occasions, so drive around if you can. You can check out my Costa Brava driving route tips in the video below.

Visiting pretty, painted Girona

Our first day was spent in Girona, the regional capital of Costa Brava. I’d visited a couple of times before and was looking forward to showing it to the family. (Read about my last visit to Lloret de Mar)

Girona has a similar feel to its big sister Barcelona, but without the crowds of tourists and dare I say a more authentic Catalan flavour (we don’t talk about Spain here). There’s modern shopping if you want it, but I prefer to just wander around the old streets that surround the cathedral, stopping here and there for some people-watching on a café terrace.

If you want the postcard shot of Girona, cross the bridge and walk along for a view of the coloured houses that overlook the river.

Lunch on the terrace at Konig

Our lunchtime spot was Konig (Carrer dels Calderers, 16), a well placed café below the Basilica de Sant Feliu. There’s a large terrace overlooking the river where we could bask in the sunshine.

They serve good quality local dishes, salads and pasta. Nothing too gourmet, but tasty and not too expensive if you are feeding a large group of hungry offspring.

Is this the best gelato in the world?

For desert we fancied an ice cream so I led the troops across the river admiring pretty painted houses. We went through the Plaça de la Independència and down the small street to find Rocambolesc (Carrer de Santa Clara, 50).

Of course, I knew the gelato would be great, since it is run by the Roca brothers of El Celler de Can Roca fame, a.k.a The best restaurant in the world if you believe these highly prized lists.

The six flavours of ice cream change with the season and come out of the machine in a piped swirl, Mr Whippy style. If you think that six choices may not be enough, even if they include coconut and violet.

And, just look at the endless selection of toppings! The lady who served us reeled off her topping recommendations in just the same way as they recite the dishes when they serve you in Michelin star restaurants. I knew then that we were on to a good thing.

Pastries that ooze with cream at Casa Moner

Right across the street we were tempted into Casa Moner (Carrer de Santa Clara, 45), a local bakery chain that serves artizan breads and pastries. I bought one of their Xuixo signature pastries, a rolly-polly doughnut filled with custard cream. The kind that oozes out the sides and drips down your chin when you take a bite.

Beyond the narrow shopfront there was a sizable cafe area at the back where you could sit to enjoy all the cakes, but sadly that would have to wait for another day.

A trendy cycle cafe at Fabrica

Crossing over the red metal lattice of the Eiffel bridge made by Gustave Eiffel a few years before he even thought of that tower in Paris. We headed back into the old town, having spotted on the map the old walls that encircle half of Girona.

We hoped to find some steps to get up onto the path that leads along the top. But, it took a coffee stop at the trendy cycle café, La Fábrica (Carrer de la Llebre, 3) to get directions to the start of the wall.

Walking the walls of Girona

Once up at the top, the path was an easy walk giving us views over the rooftops. We could effortlessly peep into windows below us and snoop on gardens and terraces.

The path ran from one end of the old town to the other, with towers along the way where you could climb up for even more expansive views. We walked around 30 minutes to get from one end of the wall to the other. I ended up behind the cathedral so I popped in to have a look around.

Majestic Girona Cathedral

The cathedral was majestic and tranquil, with towering stone pillars and stained glass lit up by the sun. Photographs were not allowed inside and although many people had their mobile phones out I decided to respect that. Instead I’ll give you a shot of the cathedral cloister which I visited on my way out.

Staying at Mas Gorral with Charming Villas

I think it’s time to tell you something about our villa which was kindly provided by Charming Villas Catalonia. Set in the countryside a short drive from Figures, we were blown away by Mas Gorral.

It’s an old farmhouse that has obviously been added to over the years. Although all in such authentic style that it’s difficult to tell what is centuries old and what is new.

The villa was set on the hillside so we had views over the countryside. We could view the snow capped Pyrenees and over the nearby village of Pontos, all terra cotta roofs and narrow streets that you could just about get a car through.

Inside we had 5 spacious bedrooms with 3 bathrooms between us. A huge dining room and living room featured natural stonework, colourful walls and antique furnishings.

There was local painted pottery mixed with Asian pieces, perhaps inspired by the owner’s travels. With quirky artworks, well kept gardens and a (bracingly fresh) pool this was the perfect place for our two families to share.

The Dali Theatre-Museum at Figueres Costa Brava

On your car route around the Costa Brava there’s no escaping that giant of 20th Century art, Salvador Dalí. Dali was born just down the road from our villa at Figures.

As we drove the hire car into town and circled to find parking I have to admit that Figueres looked unremarkable. We walked towards the red towers topped with white eggs of the museum. Luckily we got inside just before waves of French school children began to arrive.

The museum was created over 10 years in the old municipal theatre and was Dali’s personal project. He called in his artworks from all over the world and added art installations specially for the museum.

The Rainy Cadillac

We entered the first courtyard that would have been the theatre auditorium. Here we found the Rainy Cadillac topped with a huge breasted and bellied goddess figure.

Gold statues like Oscar awards looked down from the walls and a fishing boat was stranded at the top of a column of Michelin tyres. I saw those again at Dali’s house in Port Lligat.

On the stage was another artwork the size of a cinema screen. In the niche to one side a nude figure of Dali’s wife Gala with her back turned. Except when you cross your eyes or look at it through your camera you realise that it’s a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

The whole museum was packed full of artworks with that feeling of ‘it’s not quite what it seems’. I did buy the guidebook but didn’t read it until afterwards.

It was an enjoyable game to just wander through the rooms, absorbing the impression without overthinking the meaning. At the end of the day it seems to be a projection of Dali’s rich subconsciousness and dreamworld.

Once you have left the main museum, there is the jewellery collection which is included in the same entrance ticket, full of most gorgeous bling. I coveted the ruby lips with pearl teeth and the red ruby heart brooch that has a mechanism inside so it literally beats.

Gala’s Castle at Pubol

After the Dali museum we decided there wasn’t an awful lot more to see in Figueres. We drove back to the villa where the rest of the crew decided to have a relaxing afternoon.

Guy and I (OK it was mainly me) wanted a bit more of the Dali fix. So, we drove south towards Girona to visit the Castle at Púbol that Dali gave to his wife Gala.

It really was a beautiful drive on country roads with little traffic and only the occasional mishap. We inadvertently drove through one of those old villages where the houses close in and the lanes became so narrow that you worry for your wing mirrors.

This fortified country house or castle was a gift that Dali had promised Gala years before. A place that she could come on her own and relax. A place where even her husband would have to request written permission to visit her (or so the story goes).

Gaia’s sanctuary

Once the museum at Figures was nearly complete the couple were able to start work on the renovations for their new project. It was designed to suit Gala’s taste with some of Dali’s surreal art such as the cupboard painted with radiators to disguise the real radiators.

The decoration here was luxurious but the overall effect simpler than the house we would see the next day. At Port Lligat, the same amount of furniture was squashed into half the space.

This was much more Gala’s retreat where she would come for a few weeks at a time to relax away from all the showmanship that surrounded her husband.

Gala was clearly an elegant woman, her hair swept back into a girlish style, which was pinned with a large black velvet bow. Since I used to work in fashion, I loved looking at Gala’s dresses on display upstairs

There were garments from the 50s and 60s, purchased from designers such as Pierre Cardin and Elsa Schiaparelli. Her dresses show her loved colour, luxurious fabrics and the subtle sparkle of lurex.

The wild Costa Brava at Cadaques

Our final day was blessed with glorious sunshine at Cadaques. This old fishing town is now quite a tourist hotspot on the wild and rocky Cap de Creus. You drive on a winding road that snakes up through the unspoiled natural park, and brings you down the other side to Cadaques.

Parking the hire car in the first main car park we saw as we came into town was the right decision. There was little space to pass in the smaller roads close to the beach. We walked around the seafront away from the busiest terrace restaurants and cafes.

We found a smaller place that had been recommended to me called Enoteca MF. It’s the wine bar and tapas restaurant that’s run by the same family that has a vineyard and winery set above Cadaques called Sa Perafita which you pass on the way into town.

Tapas for lunch

They serve fabulous tapas with the seafood being especially fresh and delicious. We tried a bit of everything including a bottle or two of their Cava and a glass of the local Vermouth. This is the fashionable drink of the moment in Catalunya.

There was the pan tomat rubbed with tomato and garlic and a plate of local cheeses. Also, red tuna sashimi and a salmon tartare topped with guacamole.

We were impressed to see the staff peeling a huge bowl of pink shrimps which were then pulverised to make a shrimp carpaccio. It was enough to melt the heart of the most avid opponent of raw fish.

After lunch we walked up the lane beside the wine bar and in 10 minutes were overlooking the next bay at Port Lligat. This small fishing bay is where Dali spent most of the time with his wife Gala.

Dali House at Port Lligat

The house was created by knocking together a number of fishing huts and then extending them over the years. Because the individual rooms are so small you need to book timed tickets in advance. In April we were able to get them the day before.

Although there were not many large scale artworks here, Dali’s vision was felt everywhere. Dried yellow ‘everlasting’ flowers were in almost every room, a favourite of Gala’s.

Dali’s art studio was one of the largest spaces with light flooding in and an easel that could be moved up and down. This enabled Dali to always paint sitting down on his chair.

We moved from room to room, up a few steps each time since the different cottages were on different levels. Soon we emerged on a lovely terrace.

Whitewashed stonework, pots of flowering plants and olive trees provided shade. The surprise was that they’d cleverly fitted in a swimming pool on the terrace with a round section and narrow channel for swimming up and down.

Since not all of our group had visited the Dali house, we joined the rest enjoying a drink at the Es Raco d’en Dani Xiringuito. Located at the other end of the beach, it is another offshoot of the Sa Perafita winery.

There was plenty of seafood on the menu. Although we stuck to the beers and coffee the waft of grilled octopus was mouthwatering.

Exploring the artisan market

Rather reluctantly we walked back over the headland to Cadaques and wandered around the artisan market. Here we bought olive bread and pastries from the Cas Mona stand that we had seen in Girona.

What a fabulous break we’d had but the next day it was time to return to Girona airport for our flight home. Still we managed a quick trip to the Sunday market at nearby Bascara. We bought some salad and rotisserie chicken for lunch on the terrace.

As we basked in the warm sun I think we were all trying to soak it up and take a little piece of Costa Brava sunshine home with us.

Have you been to Costa Brava or Catalunya and if so, what did you enjoy?

Read more about Costa Brava

Lloret de Mar – sun, sea and so much more…
Val de Nuria – a Sunday stroll in the Pyrenees

Visitor Information for Costa Brava

Thanks to Charming Villas Catalonia for providing our villa Mas Gorral near Figueres. Charming Villas specialise in luxury and character villas in Catalonia. Choose from rustic villas in the countryside to modern coastal villas.

They have over 80 villas to choose from. Richard and his wife who run the company are based locally they are able to help with planning your holiday and on hand to sort out any issues.

Auto Europe work with 20,000 car rental locations in 180 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, as well as North and South America.

For more information to plan your holiday in Costa Brava, visit the Costa Brava Tourism Website and the Catalunya Tourism Website.

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Thanks to Auto Europe for providing* our hire car for exploring Costa Brava.

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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