10 Best Things to Do in Tossa de Mar

The Old Town of Tossa de Mar is the only fortified town that remains on the Catalan coast. The castle was built in the 12^th century and the stone walls enclosing its historic neighbourhood date from soon afterwards. A significant amount remains, not only of the walls but also of the towers that they connect. It's best to walk the walls in the late afternoon when the heat of the day will have dissipated and you may catch a spectacular sunset.

Three of those towers are essential viewing. Joanàs Tower is one of the best known, with a commanding position overlooking the bay. The Clock Tower, once the only public timepiece in town, and Codolar Tower, with a view down to the beach of the same name, complete this trio of must-sees. The Torre dels Moros on the edge of town, while not part of the ramparts, is a 15th-century watchtower aimed at fending off attacks from the Moors.

The region’s maritime heritage is celebrated in the Centre d’Interpretació dels Fars de la Mediterrània, an exhibition which tells the story of the Mediterranean’s lighthouses. It's housed in the Far de Tossa, the town’s early 20^th-century lighthouse, which occupies a clifftop position overlooking the old town where the castle buildings once stood.

Learn about what it would have been like to work as a lighthouse keeper and how the evolution of technology made such an occupation redundant. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to leave: from the hill, you can enjoy magnificent views of the coastline below.

What’s a statue of a Hollywood legend doing in a Spanish coastal resort? The clue is on celluloid and relates to a 1951 movie called Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. The popular actress Ava Gardner, married at the time to Frank Sinatra, starred opposite James Mason in the title role. During the shoot, she won locals over with her down-to-earth manner. Her love affair with Spain was just as endearing, and she later lived in Madrid for a while.

Immortalising this star of the big screen was inevitable. In 1998, the town’s authorities erected a bronze statue by Girona artist Ció Abellí. Today, the statue of the late actress occupies a commanding position in the old town overlooking the bay. Ask for one of her besos (kisses) and you’ll be pointed in the direction of a bakery, for they are little pastries.

The Els Ametllers Roman villa is tangible proof that the Romans came to Tossa de Mar around 2,000 years ago and conquered the Iberian Peninsula. To find it, you simply need to head up into the hills behind the resort. There you’ll find the ruins, one of the most significant finds in the area. It was built in the 1^st century BC, the home of an aristocrat, and features splendid mosaics, thermal baths and other trappings of Roman wealth.

Surrounding the villa in those days would have been a successful vineyard. The wine produced from the grapes grown here would have been sent back to Rome and also exported elsewhere in the Empire. Visitors can also tour the remains of a grain store and other agricultural buildings.

Built in mediaeval times on the site of an older Romanesque church, this example of Gothic architecture would once have been an impressive structure. Now ruined, it had a single nave, a sacristy to the east and a side chapel off the transept to the west. Enough of the walls and roof remain to give modern-day visitors an idea of what it would have looked like.

But unless you’re a particular fan of religious architecture, the main reason to come here is the view. From the 50-metre-high cliff on which the church sits, visitors have a breathtaking view over the town and out to sea.

Located in what was once the Governor’s house, the Municipal Museum opened its doors in 1935. Its collection can be divided into 2 main disciplines: art and history. Some of the treasures that archaeologists uncovered in the Els Ametllers Roman villa were brought to the Museo Municipal de Tossa de Mar for safekeeping.

The museum’s also home to an extensive collection of art from the 20^th century, displaying works from the local artists as well as the likes of French painter Marc Chagall. So enchanted was he with the light in Tossa de Mar, he called it the “Blue Paradise”.

Now the Hotel Diana, the unique architecture of what was originally Casa Sans is worth checking out. Over a hundred years ago, businessman Joan Sans commissioned architect Antoni de Falguera i Sivilla to design and build him this grand mansion. The house is built in Modernist style. Outside, gargoyles decorate the façade.

Inside, some of the original décors has been preserved, including the stained glass windows and fireplace. When his cork business faltered, Sans sold the home in 1930 to Fernando Vilallonga i Balam, who put his own stamp on the place. We can thank Vilallonga for the Carrara marble staircase and the bronze sculpture of the Greek goddess Diana. After Vilallonga died, the house was converted and in 1958 became the Hotel Diana.

This Gothic cross stands at the main entrance to the Old Town of Tossa de Mar. The structure is about 3.5 metres tall and fashioned from limestone. Surrounding it is a small garden, enclosed by iron railings. Experts have dated this wayside cross, once located in the town’s cemetery, to the 14^th or 15^th Century.

At the base of the cross are 3 stone steps. At the top, you’ll see an image of San Pedro, patron saint of fishermen and also San Benet, the founder of the Benedictines. Look closely and you’ll also notice that carved into the stone are depictions of the Virgin Mary and Christ on the Cross.

Tossa de Mar’s popularity today is in no small part on account of its coastal location. Closest to the town is the Platja Gran, Tossa de Mar’s largest beach. In high season, the beach is packed with sun-worshippers, but offseason, it’s a delightful and convenient place for a stroll along the shore.

This 380-metre-long crescent of sand is framed by the ramparts that enclose the Old Town. Not surprisingly, this historic vista has caught the attention of many, including National Geographic who included Platja Gran in their ‘Top 25 Best Beaches in the World’ list several years back.