Until the 19th century

Enclosed by mountains, Cadaqués is a fishing village accessible only by sea.

Historically, Cadaqués was a popular shelter for pirates who took refuge here after plundering ships on the high seas.

In the 18th century, winegrowing prospered in the area and enriched the commune, but the arrival of phylloxera at the beginning of the 20th century led to its near-ruin, and the departure of many inhabitants to Cuba.

1910 - 1930

Spanish emigrants to the United States and Cuba returned to the village after making their fortunes. These “Cubanos”built splendid houses that have become part of the town's cultural heritage.

Cadaqués is finally linked to the rest of Spain by a carriage road, completed in 1927.

1930 - 1950

In 1930, seduced by the landscape, the light and the isolation, Salvador Dalí settled with his wife Gala in a fisherman's cottage in the cove of Port Lligat. In his wake, Cadaqués became a place of inspiration for many artists and intellectuals (Duchamp, Picasso, Magritte, Eluard, Ernst, Buñuel...).

The Spanish Civil War led to their departure, but the town's isolation preserved its charm. After the war, the town's artistic spirit was revived, and a transition was made from a traditional fishing economy to tourism.