Tossa de Mar – Vila Vella, Coastline and Historic Discoveries

The fortified Vila Vella, Tossa’s old town, is the only surviving fortified medieval town on the Catalan coast. In 1931, it was classified as an artistic and historical monument.

Culture and History

The Centre d'Estudis Tossencs organises book presentations, lectures, study days and other activities on the history, culture and heritage of Tossa.

The Roman villa of Els Ametllers dates from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD and was one of the most significant villas in the ancient Roman province of Tarraco.

The Museu de la Dona explains life in Tossa before the beginning of tourism through the roles of women in fishing, the household and agriculture.

The Museu de la Dona is located in Can Ganga, a fortified house from the 16th century.

Casa Sans was commissioned in 1906 by Joan Sans from the architect Antoni de Falguera. The façade facing the sea features modernist gargoyles depicting the four seasons.

Sa Roqueta is a traditional fishing district that emerged in the 16th century, when Tossa expanded beyond the town walls.

The Capella dels Socors is said to have been built in 1593 by Antoni Caixa as a seafaring votive structure after he survived a shipwreck.

The lighthouse of Tossa was built in 1917 at the highest point of Cap de Tossa. A new museum project is being designed there as an information centre about a century of maritime signals on the Costa Brava and the world of lighthouses.

An institution founded in 1935 is located in the Palau del Batlle de Sac, the most significant building in Vila Vella.

Coastline and Trails

The coast of Tossa combines cliffs and rocky stretches of coastline with small beaches and coves.

The GR 92 long-distance trail crosses the municipality of Tossa de Mar from north to south and forms the backbone of five proposed routes, some of which also follow other marked footpaths.

A circular trail leads around the Montllor mountains to Puig de ses Cadiretes (519 m), the highest peak of the Massís d’Ardenya Cadiretes. From the summit, there are panoramic views of the surrounding area and the Mediterranean forest.

The coastal circular trail to Pola Cove is easy, 6.6 kilometres long and takes around two hours.

Traditions and Cuisine

The tradition of Pare Pelegrí is celebrated every year on 20 January. The pilgrim walks to the chapel of Sant Sebastià in Santa Coloma de Farners and returns to Tossa the following day.

Toquen a córrer, ses nou sardanes is a traditional local dance performed annually on 2 July.

Cim i tomba is a traditional dish of Tossa’s fishermen, prepared by generations of sailors and now served as a local speciality on restaurant menus in Vila.

Find more destinations at Avinyonet De Puigventós, Vilanant, Torrent, La Tallada D'empordà, Salitja, Palol d'Onyar, Sant Julià De Ramis and Sant Martí Del Clot.

To the overview of the wider region: Girona.