Cadaqués: Tour of the Nautical Basketry Dalí Loved｜Spain

Step beyond the postcard views of Cadaqués and discover the village it once was: a community of fishermen and olive growers who lived from the sea and olive oil. For generations, families crafted fishing traps by hand using olive shoots gathered in the Cap de Creus groves—knowledge passed from parents to children and nearly lost over time.

On this guided experience with Marc Blay, explore the “hidden” Cadaqués through its streets and stories, then dive into the tradition of nautical basketry. See how the weaving technique is made with local olive shoots and learn the full process behind these marine tools: why olive wood is among the most resistant and durable materials in the Mediterranean, when and how the shoots are harvested, and why each piece is cured with seawater.

As you follow the route toward Portlligat, the journey connects craft to place. Along the way, you’ll understand how this technique belongs not only to Cadaqués but also to a wider world of coastal cultures. The experience finishes in Portlligat, where you’ll uncover the surprising link between nautical basketry and Salvador Dalí—his childhood fishing in Cadaqués, his admiration for the fishermen of Portlligat, and how these olive fish traps helped shape the imagination of a future artist.

No prior experience is needed—just comfortable shoes, water, and curiosity. This is a rare chance to meet the real Cadaqués: its people, its sea, its olive groves, and the craft that kept fishing families going for centuries.