Tossa de mar fortress history. Tossa de Mar castle and old town
April 26th, 2013, 12:05 pm
Only on the third day, after admiring the fortress from the coast and from the sea during a boat trip to Lloret, we went to the fortress along the paved stone serpentine road to see Vila Vella with our own eyes from the inside, touch the medieval stones, live a moment in history, in order to feel the spirit of antiquity, peace and tranquility.
The history of this town goes back thousands of years. The first inhabitants appeared in Tossa de Mar during the Neolithic period, as evidenced by the results of archaeological excavations in this area. Around the first millennium BC. An Iberian settlement arose in Tossa de Mar, and the Romans appeared here in the first century BC, confirmation of the presence of the ancient Romans here was obtained by the city doctor Ignacio Mele in 1914: an amateur archaeologist discovered the ruins of an ancient Roman villa within the city preserved mosaics of the 4th century AD, which immortalize the name and title of its owner and mention the city of Turissa - "Salvo Vitale Felix Turissa Ex Oficina Felices". Further excavations for many years have confirmed the assumption that Turissa, Tursa (predecessor of Tossa) was a thriving Roman city.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Tossa de Mar became part of the kingdom of the Goths, later, in the 8th century, the town was occupied by the Arabs, from the 12th century Tossa de Mar became finally part of the Duchy of Barcelona. Like all cities and settlements of that time, Tossa was quite strongly fortified and played the role of a defensive bastion for coastal settlements. Of course, in those harsh times, the life of a coastal city cannot be called easy. After the return of these lands to the possession of the Spaniards, the city took care of its protection from pirates. And in the 12th century AD, a fortress was built here and surrounded by a high wall, which is now known as "Vila Vella" - Old city, it has practically survived to this day. 
The watchtowers of the Old City served to prevent pirate raids from the sea - North Africa, especially in the sixteenth century. Throughout the coast, at a certain distance from each other, there were watchtowers. Usually they towered over the bays in strategically important places. Inside there was a permanent post that monitored the sea. In case of danger, the sentinels gave a signal during the day with the help of smoke, and at night with the help of fire. Through the chain, the signal was transmitted from tower to tower and the city, which was approaching danger, had time to organize the defense. These towers were called "Moorish", it was the Moors who introduced such a signaling system. As soon as the signal of a threat came, the townspeople locked the main gate and began to defend. The gates of the city had two doors. In case of danger, the space between the doors was filled with sandbags, making the entrance to the city very difficult. The tower can still be seen over the main gate. It once housed the city's only public clock. Gradually, the name - "watch" was stuck to it.
The walls themselves were already built in the 12th and 13th centuries, and in their extant form they were completed by the end of the fourteenth century - in 1387. The three cylindrical towers on the ramparts of the city have their own names: Torre del Codolar, Torre de les Hores and Torre d "en Joanàs. The old church of San Vicens of the 15th century and the governor's palace (governor's house) of the 14th century, in addition, about 80 houses of the fort have survived without destruction. 
Of the four large towers, three have survived to this day: in 1917, a lighthouse was built on the site of the almost destroyed fourth.
People still live in the Old Town, and its streets are organically intertwined with the streets of modern Tossa. New town not much younger than Old. New is the name of the part of the city that, as the population grew, was simply built outside the walls of the fortress. In this part of the city, new houses coexist and intertwine with houses built in the 19th century. This city resembles one big house, to which new rooms are added as needed for the growing family.
The houses in the narrow streets of the old town still belong to the descendants of the fishermen living in Tossa.
Church of Sant Vicenc in the center, behind it on the hill on the left is the Torre deis Moros tower.
Traditionally, it is believed that coastal settlements were necessarily fishing, as for this city, this is not entirely true. Yes, here and now several families are engaged in fishing, but the main income of the city was the production of wine from grapes and cork.
The city lost its social significance by the beginning of the 20th century, when the demand for cork oak bark fell - the cork industry, together with the coastal trade, formed the basis of the region's prosperity. The outflow of residents from Tossa began, many left for other cities in Spain. Tossu was rediscovered by artists in the 1920s and 1930s. Tossa is proud that Marc Chagall was one of the first to come here to rest, and after him other artists came to this picturesque fishing town. Such masters as Andre Mason, Joaquin Miro and Tsuguharu Fujita rested and worked here; at one time so many artists from all over the world came here that Tossu began to be called "The Babylon of the Arts"! The population of Tossa de Mar is about 6,000 people, but during the holiday season the city is filled with tourists from all over the world. Lovers of quiet rest come here, there are no noisy nightclubs and discos, and beautiful beaches become quiet and almost deserted in the evening.
The narrow streets of Tossa de Mar, decorated with flowers, to this day keep old residential buildings of traditional medieval architecture with their own special and characteristic flavor. During its heyday (XV-XVI centuries), the Old City united about 80 houses, most of which retained the sizes established by the settlement charter (in the medieval states of the Iberian Peninsula, agreements between feudal landowners and residents of settlements) in 1186.
The Municipal Museum, located in the Governor's House, was founded in 1935. The building itself was built in the Middle Ages, but in the 18th and 20th centuries it underwent strong architectural changes. The museum contains works of art and artifacts from the archaeological site in the Tossa de Mar area.
From the beach of Tossa de Mar, according to the schedule, there are ships, to the neighboring beaches of Lloret de Mar and Blanes with a transparent bottom, you can observe the flora and fauna Mediterranean Sea There are several companies providing such excursions. Information on routes, departure times and tickets can be found at the kiosks on the beach. 
Quiet and a nice place where rocky coves alternate with small beaches. Tossa de Mar is notable for its rocky shores, sea cliffs, narrow straits, turning into deep grottoes,romantic bays with andthe emerald color of the water, quiet streets, where you can walk for days on end, constantly finding new, unexplored places.
How fascinating it is to watch the sea below beating against the rocks - without changing this order for centuries.
Panorama of the sea and waves! Unforgettable impression!
Not far from the Old Town, you can see the remains of a Roman settlement from the 4th century and the ruins of the parish church of St. Vicenza. A sample of late Gothic, built in the 15th century on the foundations of a 12th century chapel, towered on a fifty-meter cliff. But, despite her spectacular location, she stopped tripling the townspeople. The church was too small to accommodate the parishioners. The population was growing. In the sixteenth century, the city no longer fits inside the fortress, and the first buildings along the road leading to the city began. The quarter outside the fortress walls was called the “new city”. It was there that a new neo-Gothic church was built between 1755 and 1776. Unfortunately, most of the decoration of the church was lost during the civil war. The tower at the very top of the mountain was also destroyed; in its place, first a windmill was built, and later a lighthouse.
Along the cliff from the side of the sea near the observation deck of the lighthouse, cacti grow and fruits on them, in Tossa's shops I saw them for sale. I heard it was a cactus fig. I had never seen it alive before, much less tried it. And even now I could not decide on it. Nevertheless, I bought several pieces, put them in hot water from the tap in the room to soften the thorns, peeled the peel, cut them and saw that there were a lot of bones inside, like little pebbles. So they prevented me from understanding and fully experiencing the taste of cactus figs. I think this is the first and last experience of tasting these fruits)). I learned more about them at home. Here's what they write on the networks:
"Common names are Indian fig, Indian fig, prickly pear, sabr, tsabr, fayg.
Fruits are pale green, light yellow, slightly red or purple in color, similar to thorny cones of a pleasant color. The inside of the fruit contains a whitish translucent pulp, sweet taste, with a fairly large number of large seeds.
Cactus fruits - fig prickly pear -
possess such amazing qualities that it makes sense to try to discover and try them. The content of the fayge is more than delicious. First of all, it is attracted by the saturation of the color of the pulp, which indicates a high content of natural dyes. They have antioxidant properties as free radical carriers. The high antioxidative potential of the phaig cactus, which has already been confirmed by scientific research, protects our cells and organs from degenerative processes and diseases. Which cannot but affect the condition of the skin, kidneys or blood vessels.
The pulp of fayg fruit is very juicy, sweet, soft, pleasant yellow, orange or red color, well quenches thirst. Recently, a new and elegant fashion has emerged to drink freshly made juice from the pulp of the phaige cactus. "
I did not understand this)). 
And this is a palm tree blooming on the observation deck at the lighthouse.
On a cliff near the fortress, there is the Tossa de Mar Camino de la Luz lighthouse, whose name translates as "Path of Light" today rises over the ruins of an ancient castle. In fact, the current lighthouse is not that old, as it was built only in 1917. In the last century, the building survived a major fire, and after that it was completely reconstructed. The popularity of the lighthouse among tourists is explained, first of all, by the museum located in it. Museo del Far de Tossa is unique in that it contains, for sure, the most complete information about all the lighthouses of the Mediterranean coast, here you can get acquainted with the history of the lighthouses of the Mediterranean Sea, their work and structure. The museum exhibits various lighthouse lamps and navigation instruments. The entrance to the museum is closed by a sealed door that opens automatically every 5 minutes. Near the lighthouse there is a beautiful observation deck where you can admire the sea view. Seagulls live on the rocks.
On the observation deck at the lighthouse.
We also climbed that mountain in the distance, there are luxurious villas with swimming pools and flower greenhouses, beautiful!))
In the middle of the twentieth century, a boom in world tourism to Spain began. And the Costa Brava, and along with it, Tossa de Mar were no exception. In 1950, Tossa was chosen by Hollywood for the filming of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. The main roles in the film about the love of a bullfighter for a beautiful foreign woman were played by Ava Gardner and Mario Cabre. In life, everything happened almost like in the film: Mario Cabre could not resist Ava's charm and fell madly in love with her. Rumors spread rapidly at all times, and in Hollywood, well-wishers quickly informed Frank Sinatra - Ava's husband - that his wife was flirting with another man. Sinatra dropped everything and quickly arrived in Tossa to be by her side during filming. Ava really fell in love. But not in Mario Cabra, but in Spain, where she lived after filming the film for eight years. Many years later, in 1992, the actress, who in Tosa is still considered the most beautiful woman in the world, was erected a bronze sculpture: Ava Gardner stands on a steep bank facing the sea, a light wind moves her hair and plays with the folds of her dress.
The Church of Sant Vicenc stands out against the background of the houses of Tossa de Mar, behind it, on the hill, the Torre deis Moros tower is clearly visible, and the road to it, going up the mountain, along which we climbed on the first day, I already talked about this earlier.
This monument was erected at the beginning of the ascent to the fortress, in photo No. 4 it is seen from above.
The vast city beach is bordered on one side by an indented rocky coast, where sea cliffs form deep grottoes, narrow straits and secluded coves, attracting dreamers, romantics and explorers of the underwater world. On the other side of the city beach is one of the most famous national monuments of the Costa Brava - the medieval fortified city of Vila Velha, located at an altitude of 70 meters above sea level, and from its walls there is an amazing view of the sea below. Coastline Tossa de Mar is 14 kilometers long. The length of the central city beach Platja Gran is 430 m, the width is on average 45 m.
Platja Gran beach.
Returning to the beach by the same road along which we climbed to the very top of Vila Vella, to the lighthouse, we decided to inspect the neighboring mountain from the lagoon, climb the stairs to the very top and walk along the beautiful, as if uninhabited places. But first we had to take a break, have lunch, which we did in a cafe on the beach, everything took a little over an hour, having refreshed ourselves, we went to the foot of the mountain near the Kodolar tower.
The ascent to the neighboring mountain began from this place, from the Kodolar tower, one of the three towers of the wall, which has retained its original name. The name Codolar means "sea rock". The beach is immediately visible with coarse sand mixed with pebbles and other rocks polished by sea water. Since 2007, the Museum of Contemporary Art has been located in the Kodolar Tower.
Stones, pines and the sea merge into a single image of the fabulous Tossa. In the distance, at the very top of the mountain of the Old City, you can see the lighthouse and the walls of the fortress, we are at the foot of the neighboring mountain, near the Kodolar tower.
The way up is not easy, and the views of the city and the sea are magnificent! In the center is the Codolar Tower.
The road to the top of the neighboring mountain.
This is also one of the main beaches of Tossa de Mar Platja Codolar. It is slightly hidden in the corner under the Old City tower, the Kodolar Tower. Platja Codolar beach, El Codolar, is well protected from the wind, which in ancient times was important for fishermen who went to sea. Therefore, part of the modern beach has long served as a port for fishing ships.
This city is just a breath of history. It is a pleasure to rest here. Sometimes people don't have enough time to stop and just look around. And here the stones of the Old Fortress calm, warm and slow down time.
El Codolar beach. It is about 80 meters long and 70 meters wide. The city beach has received the Blue Flag award. The water area of the beach is deep, the current is fast, which poses a danger to those who cannot swim. Small rocky outcrops located along the coast are also quite dangerous, despite the strength of the rocks that compose them.
Tossa is an amazing city. Once you get here, you want to come back again and again. There is a bewitching magic in its narrow streets, old fortress and, of course, in the sea. But even it cannot overshadow Tossa ...
Tossa de Mar resort- one of the most beautiful towns in Spanish Catalonia and the province of Girona, on the Mediterranean coast. It is located a hundred kilometers from Barcelona and the French border. The wealthy Europeans began to travel to this resort in Spain in the twenties of the last century, and every year its popularity only grew.
The city of Tossa de Mar is very small, and there are only six thousand locals here. Nevertheless, with the arrival of the next holiday season, it is growing rapidly. Tourists are attracted here by beautiful beaches and interesting sights, as well as magnificent nature. In addition, in recent years, connoisseurs of diving, admiring the local underwater world and the tranquility of sea waters, have liked to come to the coast of Tossa de Mar.
The resort of Tossa de Mar will be an excellent place for those tourists who prefer to relax in peace and quiet, there is no evening or night noise, due to the absence of nightclubs and discos, as in other Spanish resorts, such as the youth of Lloret de Mar And also, connoisseurs like to relax here. ancient architecture and beautiful nature. The town has a special atmosphere that immerses any guest in the past. It is no wonder that it has long attracted creative personalities - artists, poets who drew inspiration from its charms: picturesque rocky shores, harsh sea cliffs, narrow straits, wonderful bays, magnificent sandy beaches... Tossa de Mar, the Mediterranean resort of Tossa de Mar, carefully preserves the rich historical heritage... So what is there to see?
Or "Vila Vella" - impressive architectural monument twelfth century on the Mediterranean Costa Brava. The fortress was erected for the purpose of protection local population from the frequent raids of pirates. In the twelfth century on the territory of the citadel there were eighty houses of the townspeople and one parish church. Of course, over time, the fortress collapsed, but the Spaniards regularly restored it, and their descendants can see with their own eyes the greatness of medieval architecture. The Villa Vella Fortress is the last and only well-preserved example of a fortified medieval town on the Catalan coast. The citadel acquired its present appearance at the end of the fourteenth century, retaining its original external border, battlement stone walls with loopholes, four watchtowers, three cylindrical towers with parapets. At a height of seventy meters in the fortress of Villa Vella there is a lighthouse, and until the beginning of the nineteenth century in its place was the castle of Santa Maria de Ripol, which belonged to the abbot of the city monastery. Since 1931, the fortress has become an official "National Historical Monument". Entering Villa Vella, you find yourself in a cute quarter, with small and narrow cobblestone streets, there is the Governor's House, which now houses a museum, the Sant Drap house, a medieval hospital, and the ruins of old Gothic and Romanesque churches. You can get to the territory of the fortress by going up the serpentine road from the “Big Beach”, and if you don’t want to walk, tourists can get to the gates of Villa Vella by a small wheeled train. From the territory of the fortress, enchanting views of the sea with numerous sailing ships and the coastline with luxurious mansions open up.
Lighthouse "Camino de la Luz"- has been working in Tossa de Mar since 1917. It rises above the romantic ruins of an ancient castle. In the last century, there was a huge fire, after which the building had to be reconstructed. Inside the lighthouse is the Museo del Far de Tossa, where you can learn about all the lighthouses on the Mediterranean coast. The museum is loved by people interested in the history of navigation and lighthouses. The exposition of the museum contains various lamps, lighting structures, navigation devices, commemorative signs from different parts of the world. The entrance to the museum is closed with a sealed door that automatically opens every five minutes. There is a nice little restaurant inside the lighthouse. There is an observation deck next to the lighthouse from which you can admire the coast. Opening hours of the Museum "Camino de la Luz": from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday - closed. The price of an adult entrance ticket is three euros, for children under twelve years old - free.
Is a popular tourist attraction of Tossa de Mar. The tower is an integral part of the complex of the medieval fortress "Villa Vella". This is one of the three towers that have survived to this day. Unfortunately, the rest of the towers of the citadel of Tossa de Mar were destroyed. But the tower of En-Juanas has managed to retain its original appearance, which delights tourists taking pictures against its background.
Vassal Oath Tower or "The Tower of Es Kodoar" - also located on the territory of the Villa Vella fortress. Travelers vacationing in Tossa de Mar and in the neighboring resort towns of the Costa Brava are also very fond of taking pictures against the background of this tower. The Es-Kodoar tower is located near the bay, where a small trading port was located centuries ago.
One of the best-preserved ancient cannons on the Costa Brava, located in the ancient citadel of Villa Vella. This is one of the many weapons that defenders of the fortress used to defend against pirates and other foreign invaders. This cannon appeared in the fortress in 1333. It was cast from cast iron and bronze, and they fired at the enemies first with stone cannonballs, then cast from metal. This is a very heavy cannon, so in order to facilitate its movement, it was installed on a wooden plinth equipped with wheels. Of course, over many centuries the cannon has noticeably rusted, but looking at it, one can imagine how formidable it was for opponents in the distant years.
Or "Casa de Governador" - a building in the late Gothic style, the former residence of the ruler of the city of Tossa de Mar, who also ruled the "Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripol". Since 1935, there has been a municipal museum that houses a rich collection of paintings by Spanish and foreign artists who visited Tossu de Mar in the thirties of the twentieth century. One of these artists is the famous Marc Chagall, who lived in this Spanish resort town and liked to call Tossu de Mar - "blue paradise". The archaeological section of the museum contains amazing historical artifacts from the Paleolithic period to the late Middle Ages. Shown here is a stunning mosaic of the atrium of an ancient Roman villa dating back to the late 4th and early 5th centuries.
It was built in 1755. This building is the most beautiful architectural monument of Tossa de Mar, in the neoclassical style. The church was built on the site of a former fifteenth-century temple, as it became cramped for the growing number of parishioners. During the Spanish Civil War, many beautiful elements of the interior of the church disappeared without a trace, and only thanks to the diligence of the restorers, the temple regained its former splendor. The interior wall paintings were recreated here, and the entrance and altar were decorated with sculptures of Christian saints. Inside the temple there are wooden benches in two rows. The main attraction of the "Church of St. Vincent" in Tossa de Mar is a copy of the "Black Madonna of".
Located near Tossa de Mar train station. It was built together with the Hospital for the Poor in 1773. The chapel was used as a "hospital church". Inside it, special attention should be paid to the beautiful Baroque altar, where St. Michael is depicted.
Or "Passeig del Mar" - a beautiful walking place with numerous cafes, restaurants, framed by green palm trees. On the embankment there is a monument to the actress Ave Gardner, who fell in love with the resort of Tossu de Mar during the filming that took place here. After that, she lived here for eight years. The embankment is a favorite vacation spot for both locals and guests of the resort of Spain.
This is a picturesque pebble beach, in a beautiful bay and popular place among the Spaniards for wedding ceremonies. The beach is forty meters wide and three hundred meters long. For the purity of the waters and the sea, he was awarded " Blue flag»The European Union. This beach is pebbly, but entry into the sea is sandy. There are sun loungers, showers, parking, bar, boat rental. Walking along the shallow water along the coast, you can admire the numerous and varied underwater world, nimble fish flashing around your feet. If you rent a boat, you can enter one of the picturesque grottoes nestled in the coastal cliffs.
- one of the three public beaches of the Spanish resort of Tossa de Mar, located near the central part of the city, in the historic district. The structure of the beach is sandy and pebble. Kodolar is surrounded by picturesque cliffs that provide protection from the wind for holidaymakers. Calm coastal waters was chosen by families with children and divers. The water here is so clean that dolphins can often be seen a hundred meters from the coast. The beach is always calm and quiet. For the convenience of tourists, there are kiosks selling water and ice cream.
In general, there are many beaches in the Tossa de Mar resort area, they stretch for fourteen kilometers, and they can be divided into four main sandy zones: 1. "Mar Grande"; 2. "Mar-Menuda"; 3. "El-Kolodar"; 4. "Reig". There are a lot of people on the beaches in the high season, but if you wish, you can rent a boat and go along the coast to look for a secluded bay, there are a huge number of them here. By the way, in recent years, boats with a transparent bottom have been very popular in Tossa de Mar, on board of which tourists can admire the amazing underwater world of the Mediterranean Sea of Spain.
The resort town of Tossa de Mar awaits guests who will appreciate its peaceful atmosphere and unique historical charm. This place is a great choice for families with children. But it will also be interesting for fans of event tourism. Tossa de Mar often hosts fun festivals that fall during the spring, summer, and autumn periods. For example, in April in the resort of Tossa de Mar there is the "Festival of San Jordi", and in the summer - we recommend having fun in the "Night of St. Juan", in September - "Day of Catalonia" is celebrated. Holidays in the Costa Brava resort - Tossa de Mar will allow you to discover a harmonious combination of centuries-old Spanish traditions, the beauty of Catalan nature and architecture.
The Vila Velha fortress is the last and only surviving example of a fortified medieval town on the Catalan Costa Brava. It is located on a small but high peninsula in the city of Tossa de Mar. The fortress was built in the 12th century to protect the city from attacks by North African pirates, but its current appearance dates back to the end of the 14th century. At the same time, the fortress retained its original outer border with battlements with battlements, four watchtowers and three cylindrical towers with parapets. V highest point Vila Velha (70 meters above sea level), where the lighthouse stands today, until the beginning of the 19th century was the castle of the abbot of the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripol. In 1931, Vila Velha received the status of a national historical monument.
Inside, the fortress is a charming quarter with narrow cobbled streets, the Governor's House, which today houses the Municipal Museum, the Sant Drap House, a medieval hospital and the ruins of ancient churches - Romanesque and Gothic.
The late Gothic governor's house was once the seat of the rulers of Tossa de Mar and the surrounding area, who also ruled the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripol. In 1935, a municipal museum was opened within the walls of this house, which contains a collection of contemporary art by Spanish and foreign artists who visited the city in the 1930s, such as Marc Chagall. Chagall lived in Tossa de Mar and called this city "blue paradise". The archaeological section of the museum is represented by artifacts from the Paleolithic period to the late Middle Ages. Of particular interest is the mosaic found in the atrium (central part) of an ancient Roman villa from the late 4th - early 5th centuries.
Today, tourists can not only explore the historical monuments of Vila Velha, but also find restaurants, cafes and shops on the territory of the fortress, as well as admire the magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea. There is also a statue of Ava Gardner - a Hollywood star of the mid-20th century, who played a role in the film "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman", filmed in Tossa de Mar.
T ossa de Mar is a small (about 6,000 people), but very beautiful town located 12 km north of Lloret de Mar. This is perhaps the quietest resort on the Costa Brava. Although there are many shops, bars and restaurants in Tossa de Mar, night life here it is not as busy and noisy as in Lloret de Mar. Therefore, Tossa will be especially comfortable for couples in love, families with children and those who want to be alone with themselves and the sea.
Story this town is counted for millennia. The first inhabitants appeared in Tossa de Mar during the Neolithic period, as evidenced by the results of archaeological excavations in this area. Around the first millennium BC. an Iberian settlement arose on the site of the city, and the Romans appeared here in the 1st century BC. Archaeological excavations have confirmed the assumption that Turissa(predecessor of Tossa) was a thriving Roman city.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Tossa became part of the kingdom of the Goths; in the 8th century, the town was occupied by the Arabs, and from the 12th century, Tossa de Mar was part of the Duchy of Barcelona. Like all cities and settlements of that time, Tossa was quite strongly fortified and played the role of a defensive bastion for coastal settlements. In the 12th century, in order to protect the city from the constant attacks of North African pirates, the locals surrounded it with a fortress, the walls and towers of which still attract tourists.
Since its inception, the city has received basic income from sea fishing and trade, winemaking and cork production... In the 18th century, the city experienced an economic upswing associated with the free trade agreement with the American colonies in 1765-1778. And since the 19th century, Tossa de Mar has become a favorite vacation spot for many famous writers, actors and artists, including Marc Chagall, whose painting "Heavenly Violinist" is exhibited in the city museum. Therefore, later the city began to be called "The Babylon of the Arts".
The largest the beaches Tossa de Mar is the Platja Gran and Mar Menuda, which are located in the central part of the city. And behind the Vila Velha fortress there is cozy beach Es Codolar. All beaches are covered with pebbles, fine as sand.
In addition to the Vila Velha fortress, another symbol of Tossa de Mar is witch, the figurines of which are sold all over the place. Locals claim that many witches used to be in these places, and in order not to fall out of their favor, the townspeople hung doll witches at their doors and windows - as a sign that Tossa was under their protection.
Transport
The location of the city makes it easy to get from it to others coastal resorts... A boat route runs along the coast, linking the coastal towns of Lloret de Mar, Blanes and further to Calella. The pier and ticket office are located directly on the Big Beach (Platja Gran).
Unlike Tossa, bus station more in Lloret de Mar. From there it is more convenient to get to the center of Blanes (€ 1.55, 20 minutes), Barcelona, Girona or other cities of the Costa Brava.
If you like to travel on one's own then in Tossa de Mar you can rent a car, bicycle or ATV.
sights
Tourists in Tossa de Mar are primarily attracted by the medieval fortress Vila Velha as well as a history museum, ruins ancient roman villa, several old churches and the Sa Riera park with a playground and a pond inhabited by herons and water turtles.
Ancient Roman Villa Els Ametllers (1)
Villa Els Ametlers in the Roman province of Tarraco was discovered by the city physician Ignacio Mele as a result of archaeological excavations in 1914. An amateur archaeologist discovered in the city the ruins of an ancient Roman villa with perfectly preserved mosaics of the 4th century AD, which immortalize the name and title of its owner and mention the city of Turissa (Roman name of Tossa) - "Salvo Vitale Felix Turissa Ex Oficina Felices".
The villa is a classic example of how agriculture was carried out in the Mediterranean during the Roman era. The villa consists of two parts: residential (pars urbana) and outbuildings (pars fructuaria). Its location on the eastern slope of the Can Magi hill and its orientation towards the bay over which it rises, dictated the layout of the villa, taking into account the slope.
Upper part of a residential building (pars urbana) once had a covered gallery leading to the thermal baths complex, a winter dining room, a nympheum (fountain) and a pool with a sculptured complex made of Carrara marble, which is kept in the Municipal Museum. The walls of the baths were built of red bricks and later painted.
In the II-III centuries, the owners carried out some restructuring. Thus, individual rooms were paved with mosaics. It can now be seen in the museum, and its historical location in the building complex has been preserved.
At the bottom of the villa (pars fructuaria) the economic zone with several rooms, including an oil press, has been preserved. The presence of oil-pressing production is characteristic before the beginning of our era, since it was the main source of income for the village. Wine, oil, pickles were produced here, as well as grain was stored.
Bone styluses, including ivory, ceramics, coins and fibulae, on display at the Municipal Museum, tell about the daily life of the villagers.
In the 7th-8th centuries the settlement was abandoned, later part of the villa was used as a necropolis.
Chapel of San Miguel (Capella de Sant Miquel) (2)
The Chapel of San Miguel (Av. Del Pelegrí, 8) in Tossa de Mar is a working Catholic church built in the Baroque style. It originally belonged to the nearby Hospital for the Poor San Miguel(Hospital de Sant Miquel), founded in 1765 with donations from Tomàs Vidal i Rei - a wealthy "Indian" (as they called those who returned from Latin America). Currently, the chapel is open to everyone, and in the building of the former hospital there is Cultural Center.
The external appearance of this building is modest, the only decoration of the building is the statue of St. Thomas Aquinas above the entrance. There is a horseshoe vault above the entrance door on the right side, while the left side is decorated in a Gothic style. In the center of the baroque altar group is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus in her arms. The altar is crowned with the image of the Archangel Michael - the patron saint of hospitals in the 18th century in Catalonia. The building is crowned with a patterned dome. Next to the chapel are the most famous excavations of the city - the ruins of an ancient Roman villa Els Ametlier.
House of Rabassa (3)
House of Rabassa (C. Guàrdia, 56) or "house with a tower" was probably the first house built outside the Old City. It was built in the XIV century, the watchtower in the XVI. The house is a two-storey fortified building with a quadrangular observation tower, a hinged barbican at the corner and a 17th century annex on the ground floor.
Tower of the Moors (Torre dels Moros) (4)
This two-story tower, 8 meters high, 6 meters wide and with two levels of loopholes, is a prime example of the watchtowers built by King Philip II (1527-1598) on the Spanish Mediterranean coast in the 16th century to protect the population from pirate raids from North Africa. The tower gets its name from the Moors who invented the smoke and fire signaling system that was used on this tower.
The Moors Tower was part of the signal tower complex along with Agulla de Pola, Pólvora and possibly a watchtower in a fortress in the Old City.
The tower was abandoned at the end of the 18th century. By the end of the 19th century, bad weather and lightning completely destroyed the western side, but in 1997 the tower was completely restored.
Climbing the tower, you can enjoy the best panoramic views of Tossa de Mar.
Border Cross (7)
Initially, in the XIV-XV centuries, this border cross, about 3.5 meters high, stood near the chapel of Our Lady of Mercy, on the outskirts of the fishing village of Tossa de Mar, and marked its border. Now the cross is located next to the entrance gate to the Old Town and is an example of the Gothic and late Middle Ages. It is a four-pointed cross with ends in the form of lily petals, with the image of the Mother of God with a child in her arms in the front and the image of the crucified Christ on reverse side... The chapter contains images of St. Peter, patron saint of fishermen and St. Benedict, founder of the Benedictine order. Since Tossa, at that time, was under the jurisdiction of the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll.
House of the Governor (Casa del Governador) (9)
The medieval building in the Old Town on the Roig Soler square near the Codolar tower (Torre del Codolar) was built in the 14th century in the late Gothic style. The house was rebuilt several times in the 18th and 20th centuries, as a result of which its original architectural forms underwent significant changes. This is the so-called Falger's house(Casa Falguera), also known as tax collector's house(Casa del Batlle de Sac) or governor's house... The Falger family collected taxes and fees for the abbot of the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll, the feudal lord of Tossa de Mar.
Since September 1, 1935, the building houses city Museum(Museo Municipal) (€ 3 except Monday). It is considered the first contemporary art museum in Catalonia. Here you can see the Roman mosaics from the Villa Els Ametlier, an exhibition dedicated to stories of Tossa de Mar from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages, as well as the works of artists who worked in Tossa de Mar in the 30s of the XX century. Among them is the masterpiece "Celestial Violinist" (El Violinista Celeste) by Marc Chagall.
Chapel of Our Lady of Help
(Capella de la Mare de Déu del Socors) (11)
The construction of the chapel began in the last quarter of the 16th century and was completed in 1593. The church in honor of Our Lady of Help was erected on the initiative of the sailor Antoni Caixa, who miraculously escaped during a shipwreck. Merchants, sailors and fishermen venerated the Mother of God, considering her their protector and patroness.
At that time, the church, located at the intersection of the roads leading to Lloret de Mar and Girona, stood quite far from the village, on the very outskirts. Now the chapel is located in the middle of a shopping street that runs parallel to the embankment.
Throughout its existence, the chapel has been destroyed more than once. The original architecture of the church has not survived to this day. Much of the building and the magnificent Baroque altar were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. As a result of all these events, the church building was almost completely rebuilt.
Annually, 2 July in Tossa de Mar is celebrated holiday dedicated to Our Lady of Help, which ends at 22:30, the so-called, "Procession of souls": nine triplets of children (two girls and a boy), holding hands, jumping to the music, jumping along the street Mare de Déu dels Socors, where the chapel of the same name is located. This custom is associated with the legend of the miracle performed by the Mother of God of Help, who, in response to the mother's pleas, rescued her children from the devil's clutches.
House Sans (12)
House Sans (Passeig de Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, 41) was built in 1906 in the art nouveau style by the architect Antonio Falguera (1876-1947) and commissioned by Joan Sans, the emigrant who made state of the art in cork production in Colombia. The Diana Hotel-Restaurant has been located in the building since 1958, but due to the historical status of the house, it can be viewed freely.
The house is located on the waterfront and has an unusual appearance with modernist gargoyles representing the four seasons (on the second floor there are two gargoyles representing the muses), mosaics made of glazed ceramic shards and wrought-iron decor details similar to those found in the Vicens house (Casa Vicens) by Gaudí in Barcelona. The facade was 
originally decorated with floral motifs and two female figures that have not survived. But most of the details of the original interior still delight visitors: the magnificent stained glass windows with floral patterns and the impressive fireplace are striking representatives of Catalan Art Nouveau. The marble staircase and fountain with a sculpture of Diana the hunter Frederic Marés date from a later period. They appeared in the house after it was acquired by the Vilallonga family in 1930.
House of Ganges or Leandro (Can Ganga) (6)
House of Ganges (C. Codolar, 4), in the area of Sa Roqueta, was one of the first houses built outside the Old City in the 16th century by the Leandro Macaya Xiberta family (nicknamed "Ganga"). In the second half of the 18th century, the house belonged to Tomàs Vidal i Rei, one of the first rich "Indians" (as they called those who returned from Latin America).
This is a typical example of a house fortified from frequent pirate attacks. The front door is guarded by a hinged loophole to keep out the Moorish bandits. The windows are decorated with cherubs. Recently it contains ethnographical museum.
Ethnographical museum
The Ethnographic Museum is located in House of the Ganges(C. Codolar, 4). Here you can see old craft tools, which the inhabitants of Tossa were engaged in before the development of tourism: harvesting cork, firewood, growing grapes, beekeeping, hunting, salting fish, making ice and so on. Recently, there is also a collection of ship layouts(in the amount of 16 pieces), which sailed off the coast from the 1st century BC. until the XX century. These layouts are different high quality and attention to detail. Among them there are models of Roman and Phoenician merchant ships, a shebek from the north of Africa (pirate ship), brigantine, as well as the traditional Catalan ships teranyina, llagut for fishing sardines, bou vaca ), "Palangrera" and others.
Monastery of San Grau (El Santuario del Santo Grau)
Sant Grau is a medieval Catholic monastery in the Gothic style, located in the Cadiretes mountains, 5 km from Tossa de Mar and named after Saint Grau de Aurillas, who lived in the 9th century. Saint Grau was the patron saint of livestock, so he enjoys special reverence in this livestock region. In his honor, lavish ritual processions are held annually in Tossa de Mar and holidays, the largest and most populous of them is 13 october.
Ava Gardner statue
While walking through the Vila Velha fortress, you can see the statue of Ava Gardner, erected in 1992. This is how the grateful Spaniards immortalized the memory of the legendary Hollywood actress and wife of Frank Sinatra, who took part in the filming of the film Pandora and the Flying Dutchman in the 1950s. Thanks to this film, the world learned about the provincial town of Tossa de Mar, and the actress herself fell in love with the local places so much that after filming she remained in Spain and lived there for 8 years.
Monument to Generations ("Testimony")
The Generation Monument is located at the foot of the Vila Velha fortress, not far from the Big Beach. The bronze composition depicts an elderly man playing with a boy on a bench. As conceived by the author, the monument reflects the connection between different generations of people and the transfer of experience from elders to children.
In Tossa de Mar, there are many 17th-19th century houses that are worth exploring.
|
Entertainment
In Tossa de Mar, along the coast, there is a picturesque (Pinya de Rosa), which can be reached by a special bus from Plaza Cataluña (plaza Cataluña). There is a bus to the square from the bus station in Lloret de Mar.
Tossa de Mar regularly hosts traditional sardana dances, concerts, performances for children and fireworks celebrations and festivals with rich historical traditions: April 3- Feast of Saint Jordi (Sant Jordi), June 24- Feast of Saint Juan (analogue of the feast "Ivan Kupala"), June 29- Feast of Saint Peter (Sant Pere) and 11 September- Day of Catalonia.
Feast of Saint Peter starts on June 29 at 12:00 from the church of San Vicenç (Església Sant Vicenç) with a procession of the statue of St. Peter passing through the streets of the city and the life-size figures of a sailor and a sailor. At 13:30 near the same church, and at 19:00 on the Passeig Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, a sardana is danced to the accompaniment of an orchestra.
Annually, July 1 in Tossa de Mar at 22:30 fireworks at the walls of the fortress Vila-Vella give rise to holiday season... A 2 july the city celebrates a holiday dedicated to Our Lady of Help, which ends at 22:30, the so-called "Procession of souls"() from the chapel of Our Lady of Aid (Capella de la Mare de Déu del Socors).
In late February - early March in Tossa de Mar and in cities across Spain takes place carnival, attracting thousands of tourists with unrestrained fun and an abundance of bright colors. The carnival is dedicated to two events: the end of winter and the beginning of Lent.
On the second Sunday in August, the Passeig de Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer hosts art fair... And on the last Sunday in August, Tossa hosts express vernissage bringing together about 200 artists on the streets and beaches of the city. Each of its participants must create a painting dedicated to Tossa de Mar, which must be completed on the same day.
Every Thursday, from 9 am to 1 pm, a market opens on the Rambla de Pau Casals and the surrounding streets. There you can buy locally produced vegetables, fruits, cheeses and sausages, as well as clothes, shoes and ceramics.
For more information on the activities in Tossa de Mar, as well as other assistance, please contact the Tourist Information Office at 25 Avinguda del Pelegrí (near the bus station).
Cuisine, restaurants
Tossa's culture was formed under the influence of the peculiarities of the territory in which it arose, the passage of time and various cultures, thanks to which it did not stop developing.
Home cooking recipes were passed in Tossa not only from mothers to daughters, but also from ship captains - young sailors, and from foremen - young coal miners, because, spending a lot of time away from home, they were forced to cook their own food.
At the heart of local cuisine lies fresh fish and seafood, as fishing has been a traditional activity in the region for centuries. However, prior to the development of tourism and its impact on changing lifestyles and farming, many residents had their own vegetable garden and small vineyard to produce their own wine, and also often raised chickens or rabbits for domestic consumption. On farms within the city, pigs were kept, cereals and legumes were grown. The peasants grazed herds of sheep and goats. In addition, the hunting brought game, and the forest its gifts.
With such a variety of products, changing depending not only on the season, but also on more or less prosperity in different historical eras, Tossa's cuisine has become what we know it today. These are fish-based dishes, but with a significant proportion of vegetables, legumes, meat and fruits, often cooked in the same dish based on a roast made without haste and seasoned with parsley, garlic and nuts.
The most famous dish closely associated with the maritime tradition of Tossa is sim-i-tomba(cat. "cim i tomba") (about € 20). In the old days, when fishermen went to sea, they had to spend a lot of time outside the house. Therefore, they took with them to the ship only the most necessary and simple set of products: potatoes, onions, garlic, a supply of tomatoes and peppers, as well as olive oil and spices (salt, pepper, saffron).
To cook sim-i-tomba, put onion and potato slices in a pot, finely chopped peppers and tomatoes and a few cloves of garlic. Then they put the fish (stingray, sea rooster, large sea dragon, anglerfish), stuck in the net and not suitable for sale, generously added olive oil, poured water and left to cook over high heat. While the water in the pot was boiling, they ground the garlic with oil, which was then poured over the almost finished fish and left everything together on the fire for another 2-5 minutes.
Nowadays, in restaurants of the Traditional Cuisine of Tossa association, this dish is prepared from monkfish, turbot, cod and stingray. And throughout September, they put it at the center of the three-course menu, giving an idea of the uniqueness of Mediterranean cuisine.
In addition to traditional dishes in Tossa de Mar, you can try a refreshing drink, very popular in Spain, with the taste of almond milk. horchata(Spanish horchata) or orshata (cat. orxata), which can be bought in cafes that sell ice cream for € 2-3 or in the restaurants of the Corisco hotel on the waterfront.
Horchata is made from ground nodules chufs(ground almonds), water and sugar and served chilled. It is believed that the idea of making horchata from chufa originated during the period of the Muslim presence in Valencia (VIII-XIII centuries). There is also a legend according to which the king of Aragon, having tasted the drink for the first time in Valencia, asked what it was. The girl who brought the drink said it was “milk from chufa” (llet de xufa). The king exclaimed: Açò no és llet, açò és OR, XATA! ("This is not milk, this is gold, beauty!")... From these words, allegedly, the name of the drink originated.
There are dozens of restaurants, bars and cafes in Tossa de Mar. Most of them are concentrated on the waterfront (Passeig del Mar) and offer excellent Catalan, Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine made from local produce.
There are 13 restaurants in the province of Girona with a total of 17 Michelin stars, which reflect the harmonious combination of culinary traditions and creativity. There are two of them in Tossa de Mar. These are restaurants "La Cuina de Can Simon"(Calle Portal, 24) and "Capri"(Passeig de Mar, 17).
Tossa de Mar is the most peaceful and quiet city in the Costa Brava. Low-rise hotels are built here, there are no noisy bars, discos and clubs. The main attraction of this resort is the Castillo de Tossa de Mar Fortress.
History of origin
Tossa de Mar has been mentioned in literature since 1186. This town is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and cozy places all over the coast. It received this status not only thanks to the magnificent seascapes, but also due to the combination of ancient buildings with houses of the 17th-17th centuries. The Castillo de Tossa de Mar fortress was built simultaneously with the city at the beginning of the 12th century. Since then, there have been stone walls, the road has been partially preserved, in the chapel there are wooden floors that connect the stairs. Not far from the fortress there are old fishing houses, which to this day belong to the descendants of the owners. On the territory of the Old Town, you can see the remains of a 4th century Roman settlement. Also in Tossa de Mar, the city museum of local lore has been preserved, which was built in medieval times, but was restored twice.
Architecture
Castillo de Tossa de Mar is both historical and architectural value of the city. This is a huge stone fortress, which rises near the city and juts out over the sea. You can get here only along the serpentine road, taking a ride on an unusual steam locomotive or walking. From here, a wonderful view of the sea horizon opens up, and you can also admire the bronze sculptures along the way. One of the most interesting is the monument to the famous Hollywood star of the 50s - Ave Gardner. This sculpture appeared here for a reason: the shooting of the film "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" took place in the city, where the actress played the main role.
At the top of the fortress, there is a lighthouse that illuminates the sea route. A small restaurant was also opened there, from the veranda of which you can see the entire panorama of the city and enjoy the enchanting sunset.
The walls of the fortress offer truly amazing views - of the endless blue sea, the embankment with many people, the sculpture of Minerva and the monument to an albatross - a local inhabitant, of the cliffs surrounding the castle with luxurious mansions. From here you can see the rooftops of the Old Town houses, narrow streets and the City Museum.
Neighborhood
The city of Tossa de Mar is not big, so you can walk or rent a bike or car. Not far from the Castillo de Tossa de Mar fortress there is the City Beach with various sports grounds, rental points for boats, catamarans, scooters, and a pier for small motor ships. In the city center you can visit souvenir shops, cozy cafes and restaurants with live music. Walking along the narrow streets, you can go to the beautiful church - Esglesia de Sant Vincent, built in the 18th century, which is located on a medieval square. Further - there is the famous Passeig del Mar promenade with palm trees planted alongside.
Tourists who want to spend time actively are offered tours by bus or boat to Lloret de Mar. This small seaside town has all kinds of entertainment - from international bars, clubs, discos to historical excursions on famous places... Here life is in full swing both day and night.
Tourist notes
You can get to Tossa de Mar from Girona or Barcelona airport. Buses and taxis go here. There is a short distance from the city bus station to any hotel, so you can walk.