SOLÉS Anchovy Factory-Museum
Discover the 130-year-old SOLÉS Anchovy Factory-Museum in L’Escala, showcasing anchovy production history with interactive exhibits and tastings.
Planning your visit
L'Escala on the Costa Brava has salted anchovies since Roman times — the fish sauces of antiquity were made along this coast — and the modern industry dates to the eighteenth century, with the town's anchovies holding protected status.
The Solés factory has operated for over 130 years, and the museum shows the process: the fish arriving, being salted in barrels under pressure for months, then filleted entirely by hand, which remains the only viable method and is done by women who have spent decades at it.
Tastings distinguish the salted anchovy from the vinegar-cured boquerón, which most visitors conflate.
The craft is under pressure from cheaper imports and from declining catches.
L'Escala also sits beside Empúries, the Greek and Roman city that was Iberia's gateway to the classical world.
Allow an hour. Bookable options include admission with tasting. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is SOLÉS Anchovy Factory-Museum?
SOLÉS Anchovy Factory-Museum is in L'Escala, Spain.
How long should I allow for SOLÉS Anchovy Factory-Museum?
Allow an hour. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book SOLÉS Anchovy Factory-Museum in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.