Tossa de Mar has long been known as a destination for Costa Brava beach holidays. But it also has a rich history to explore if you want to do a bit more than just sunbathing.
Sightseeing
The castle towering over Tossa’s beach is one of the most recognisable images of this part of the Costa Brava and the castle is a must see for any visitor to the town. Explore within the walls and you’ll see various sights, both historical and more contemporary. There are a number of sights outside the walls too, as you’ll see below.
Tossa Castle. Photo by David Leigh.
Tossa Castle
During medieval times a wall was built around the old town – the Vila Vella – to protect the inhabitants from attack. Today it is the only remaining example of a medieval fortified town on the Catalan coast. The walls are topped with battlements and there are a number of towers located at various points around the perimeter. Even if you visit Tossa just for the day this is a must see and the views from the old town are spectacular. Inside the castle walls you’ll find the following:
Ruins of Gothic Church
Inside the castle walls you’ll find ruins of the church of Sant Vicenç. The gothic church was built on top of a Romanesque church from the 11th or 12th century and had a single nave.
Statue of Ava Gardner
You may be surprised to come across a lifesize bronze statue of Ava Gardner while exploring the old town. The story is simple though. In 1950 the Hollywood actress filmed “Pandora and the flying Dutchman” in the town with James Mason. At the time she was married to Frank Sinatra, who stayed at Hostal de la Gavina at S’Agarò. The 1951 film shows Tossa in all its pre-tourist boom glory and the statue was commissioned to celebrate Tossa’s association with the star. It was unveiled in 1998.
Museo del Faro
Once the site of a medieval watchtower perfectly positioned to keep an eye on the bay you’ll now find a lighthouse. Dating from 1917, it houses a museum where you can learn about the history of lighthouses and the lives of lighthouse keepers.
Museu Municipal de Tossa de Mar
Tossa’s municipal museum is located in a 14th century house that once was home to the town’s governor, who administered the town on behalf of the Abbots of the monastery at Ripoll. On display at the museum are archaeological finds from Roman times, a collection of glassware and paintings and sculpture by Catalan and foreign artists.
Capella de la Mare de Déu dels Socors
This chapel was originally constructed for the fishermen in the sixteenth century, with later additions and repairs. It was also extensively vandalised by the anarchists in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, a time during which many churches were gutted.
Creu de Terme
You’ll find this Gothic cross at the main entrance to the old town. Around 3.5 metres high it is made of limestone and surrounded by a small garden enclosed by iron railings.
Casa Sans
Commissioned at the start of the 20th century, Casa Sans is an eclectic building fronted in the Catalan modernist style and incorporating techniques such as trencadís. The technique, in which glazed ceramics are broken and then used in decorative mosaics, was widely used by Antoni Gaudí. The house also features large stained glass windows.
Els Ametllers Roman Villa
You can visit the ruins of a Roman villa dating from between the first century BC and sixth century AD. The large villa was one of the most important in Roman controlled Catalonia. The surrounding would have been vineyards for wine production, which would have been exported. The villa was only discovered in 1914.
Sant Vicenç Parish church
Sant Vicenç church dates from the 18th century and was built in the Gothic style popular at the time. It was built to replace the existing church within the castle walls. By this time much of the population now lived outside the castle walls, while the town was prospering thanks to trade with the American colonies. The church has been restored due to wear and tear over the centuries. It has also been damaged by fire a number times, including during the civil war.
Activities
While the beaches and sightseeing are enough to keep you busy for much of your holiday, there are also options for the more adventurous – or just more energetic.
Diving
Diving on the Costa Brava. Photo by Costa Brava Lifestyle.
The rocky coastline around Tossa de Mar makes it ideal for diving. As you’d expect there are a number of dive centres located in the town. Qualified divers can book a boat excursion to one of several dive sites and full equipment is available to rent. You can also learn to scuba dive at get a recognised dive qualification from PADI or one of the other training bodies.
Biking
Getting round the streets or out of town completely is an option in the warm summer evenings. Explore the town or just use a pushbike to get down to the beach.
Watersports
Fancy sailing, snorkelling, hiring a boat, canoeing or windsurfing. Tossa de Mar has it all.
Boat tours
See some of the spectacular coastline of this section of the Costa Brava by boat. As well as the more leisurely trips, like offered by Dofi Jet, you can also go on a 30 minute power boat trip along the coast.
