About Figueres and the Alt Empordà

Nothing describes the charm of this region better than recalling that the Alt Empordà is the land that captivated Salvador Dalí and contains two of the three vertices of the so-called Dali Triangle consisting of the museum and the houses where he lived a large part of his life. In this region marked by the proximity of the sea and the Pyrenees, visits to the following sites are well worth anyones while: the Cap de Creus Natural Park, the Greek and Roman ruins of Empúries and the medieval town of Sant Marti d'Empuries, the marshes of the Aiguamolls de I'Emporda Natural Park, Cadaques and Sant Pere de Rodes.The region is situated at the north-eastern most corner of the Iberian peninsula, where the Costa Brava begins, with small coastal towns like Portbou and Colera.

The capital, Figueres, is known world-wide for being the site of the Dali Theatre Museum, one of Spain's most frequently visited museums, which houses a great deal of the painter's works. From here, one can embark on a journey covering the life of Salvador Dalí, including a visit to the Pubol castle (in the Baix Emporda region) and to his home in Portlligat, in Cadaques. Other interesting attractions in Figueres include the Catalonia Toy Museum, which displays all kinds of miniature toys made by the world's most prestigious toymakers, the Empordà Museum, whose collection ranges from archaeological finds from Empúries and Ullastret to 20th-century paintings by Vayreda, Tapies or Cuixart.

The Alt Emporda region also boasts natural areas of great environmental interest. The Aiguamolls de I'Emporda Natural Park, situated between the towns of Castelló d'Empuries, Empuriabrava (a residential area that provides a wide range of leisure offerings and where the Mediterranean's biggest residential marina is located) and Sant Pere Pescador, concentrates a large number of autochthonous flora and fauna species. The Cap de Creus Natural Park, which occupies a surface area of 10,787 hectares on land and another 3,073 hectares of sea, encompasses the coastal towns of Cadaques, El Port de la Selva, Llanca and Roses, and the inland towns of La Selva de Mar, Palau -saverdera, Pau and Vilajuiga. Another area worthy of mention is the Albera range, which comprises the municipalities of La Jonquera, Rabós d'Emporda, Espolla, Cantallops, Vilamaniscle, Garriguella, Mollet de Peralada and Sant Climent Sescebes, and the Salines-Bassegoda area, which includes the townships of Agullana, Albanya, Darnius (with the Boadella reservoir), Sant Llorenc de la Muga, Macanet de Cabrenys and La Vajol. The charm of these towns is completed by one of Catalonia's most important concentrations of megalithic monuments and by a good number of small Romanesque churches, both of which make the Alt Emporda one of the richest regions of Girona in terms of natural, monumental and historical heritage.

Considered among the most important archaeological sites of the Iberian Peninsula in terms of the Greek and Roman colonization periods, the ruins of Empúries, located in the maritime village of L'Escala, constitute one of the region's most prized treasures. Very near the remains of the Greek and Roman settlements is the medieval town of Sant Marti d'Empuries, with houses that combine the Gothic style with architectural elements from successive cultures. In addition to its magnificent leisure and vacation facilities, the town of Roses is well known for its citadel. The site preserves the remains of the different occupations that the town has sustained since the Greeks founded it in the 5th century B.C. until the enclosure was abandoned in the 19th century A.D. Diggings at the site have unturned the Hellenic district, the Roman village, and the medieval monastery of Santa Maria, not to mention the citadel itself, a fortification dating back to the Renaissance which was partially destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars.

The historic enclosure of Peralada castle constitutes another undisputed point of interest, foremost of which is the architectural magnificence of the castle of the lords of Rocaberti and the Carmelite convent, built in the 12th century. The castle houses a museum with important collections of pottery, glass and other works of ancient art, and includes a library with over 70,000 volumes It also doubles as a prestigious gambling casino and hosts an International Music Festival.The Alt Emporda region also boasts a grand legacy composed of Romanesque monuments. The architectural complex of Sant Pere de Rodes, declared a World Heritage site by the UNESCO, is formed by a Benedictine monastery that, like the church, dates from the 1Oth century, as well as a belfry and defensive tower that were added on in the 12th century. The collegiate church of Santa Maria de Vilabertran consists of three elements: the church, that dates from the 11th-12th centuries, and the cloister and the abbatial palace, both built in the 12th century. The Sant Quirze de Colera monastery comprises the church, built in the 9th century, the remains of a Pre-Romanesque cloister, and the buildings of the ancient abbey, dating from the 9th-15th centuries. Other sites that deserve the visitor's attention are the beautiful Augustinian monastery of Santa Maria de Llado and the church of Sant Miquel de Fluvia a building that dates from the 11th century and constitutes one of the best-preserved samples of the earliest Romanesque style.

The presence of the Gothic style in the region is well- illustrated by the church of Santa Maria in Castello d'Empuries, also known as the "Emporda cathedral" due to the influence it wielded during the Middle Ages. The temple, which dates back to the 14th century, is characterised by its magnificent bell tower.

The scenery of this region, determined by the contrast between the sea, the plains and the mountains, is complemented as well by extensive vineyards that produce excellent cava and wines.

Source: http://www.pyreneesguide.com/articles.asp?cID=51&sID=249&aID=201