Tona’s history can be explored through several distinct themes: a settlement linked to the military sphere of the Roman Republic, the history of water and spa culture, and the medieval origins of the town. By choosing an itinerary based on your interests, you can explore archaeological finds, a route focused on water, or evidence of the development of historic streets. These offer different perspectives on the town, without every theme sharing the same historical focus.

Archaeology at Camp de les Lloses

The archaeological settlement of Jaciment i Museu El Camp de les Lloses is considered one of the few surviving examples in Catalonia of a settlement linked to the military sphere of the Roman Republic. This makes it a distinctive gateway to Tona’s early history. The visitor and interpretation centre explains how the inhabitants lived and displays excavation finds alongside the archaeological collection of the municipality of Tona. The focus is therefore both on the settlement and its historical context, and on the material evidence and everyday life of its inhabitants.

When choosing a theme, it is helpful to distinguish this archaeological perspective from the other offerings: Camp de les Lloses focuses on a settlement and its finds, while other routes explore Tona through water or its medieval development. Visitors especially interested in archaeological context will find a clearly defined focus here.

Water routes and spa history

The Ruta de l'aigua brings together archaeological, medieval and spa heritage through the theme of water. This includes tasting and smelling sulphurous spring water. The route thus connects several historical themes, with water as their common thread. This sets it apart from a visit focused solely on the archaeological settlement or the town’s medieval origins.

Sulphurous waters also shaped the town’s history: after their discovery towards the end of the 19th century, Tona developed into a summer resort with numerous mansions and several spa and bathing facilities. One testament to this history is the Pou del Balneari de Roqueta, the only surviving evidence of the Balneari Roqueta, founded in 1896. The water route and this historical context therefore offer different perspectives: one explores water as the theme of a route, while the other traces Tona’s development as a summer resort.

Medieval origins and historic streets

Visitors wishing to explore the town’s medieval origins in greater depth can consider the guided route “Discover the Birth of the Medieval Town of Tona” (“Descobreix el naixement del poble medieval de Tona”). It focuses on the origins of Tona’s medieval settlement. This sets it apart thematically from the Ruta de l'aigua, which brings together archaeological, medieval and spa heritage through the theme of water. Check the current dates for the guided route before travelling.

Tona’s present-day streets also tell the story of its development: Carrer Major, Carrer Barcelona and Carrer Nou grew along the historic Camí ral. This important royal road in Osona connected Barcelona and Vic; the origins of these three streets date back to the 16th century. Following their route adds the history of a historic thoroughfare and the development of today’s streets to the perspectives offered by the itineraries.

Fira JocJoc: Play as a Cultural Theme

Fira JocJoc originated in Tona and has a history spanning more than two decades. It highlights play as an educational, creative and intergenerational leisure activity. This adds a cultural theme to the picture of Tona, distinct from archaeological finds, historic streets and spa history: the focus here is on the importance of play at different stages of life and as a creative leisure activity.

Your choice may depend on the themes themselves: Camp de les Lloses represents the history of an archaeological settlement, the Ruta de l'aigua connects water with various forms of heritage, and the guided route explores the origins of medieval Tona. Historic streets and Fira JocJoc complement these themes with further perspectives on the town’s development and culture.

Discover more destinations: Campins, Gavà, Bellver, Bellavista, Castellar Del Riu, Sant Adrià De Besòs, Bagá, Sant Sadurní D'osormort.

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.