The only difference between myself and a madman is that I AM NOT MAD. ~ Salvador Dali.
Really?
After spending a few hours in the gallery of The Dali Museum gazing deeply into the optical illusions of his famous work The Hallucinogenic Toreador or admiring the fluffy white pom-poms on Venus de Milo with Drawers or struggling to decipher Abraham Lincoln’s face at 20 meters away as the docent encouraged us to do…it does make one wonder.
Even the structure that houses the works of Salvador Dali in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida touted by AOL Travel News as “one of the top buildings you have to see before you die” doesn’t disappoint. In true Surrealist style, the Glass Enigma, a 75 foot geodesic dome, covers the Dali Museum in 1062 triangular glass plates – none of which are exactly the same size.
Inside the museum, a 60 foot spiral staircase in the shape of a DNA helix, disappears into the air amid sweeping views of Tampa Bay and the St. Petersburg waterfront. Dali’s collections include 96 oil paintings and over 2,000 other pieces of his art. A guided tour is HIGHLY recommended and these leave daily every half hour. Self-paced audio tours are also included with admission but the guided tour really did add a lot to the experience.
But the fun doesn’t end inside the museum walls…be sure to take a walk through the labyrinth of hedges and then stop for a rest by the melting clocks. You’ll find unique mathematical puzzles to tease your brain and comfortable chairs to relax while your mind tries to taken in the madness genius of Dali. The gardens are open for visiting even without a museum ticket if you find time for a stroll along the beautiful downtown bay front. The views across Tampa Bay and the breezes are reward enough!
Dali Museum Hours
Typical museum hours are Daily 10am-5:30pm and Thursdays 10am-8pm.
Holiday Hours
Thu, Nov 24: Closed for Thanksgiving
Fri, Nov 25: 10am–6:30pm
Sun, Dec 25: Closed for Christmas
Mon-Fri, Dec 26–Dec 30: 10am–6:30pm
Sat, Dec 31: 10am–4:30pm
The Dali follows international standards for gallery climate: 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit, with approximately 50% humidity. Please plan your attire accordingly.
Regular adult admission is $24, but check out their Special Offers page for discounts. Thursday evenings after 5pm are a great value!