The Casino of Friendship

The Casino is one of the most striking buildings on the central waterfront promenade of Cadaqués. Casino is also a traditional name for a building with club rooms, a dining hall, or often for the main village pub where everyone met: from grandparents to grandchildren on Sundays, and also (starving) artists, writers or workers during the week. The building is owned by the “Friendship Society of Cadaqués” (Societat l’Amistat Cadaqués) and, in addition to the popular bar on the ground floor, houses three exhibition halls and a large, prestigious terrace overlooking the bay.

The history of the community dates back to the lack of a social security system to protect workers from unemployment or disability. Therefore, a mutual insurance cooperative was founded in the 19th century under the name La Benéfica. The organisation also looked after cultural and recreational activities. Nowadays, the society is mainly dedicated to the promotion of local culture and regularly organises exhibitions, concerts, theatre performances and much more in its premises.