Tossa de Mar combines a fortified medieval old town with coastal landscapes and hiking trails across the municipality. Along the coast, cliffs and rocky stretches alternate with small beaches and coves. When planning your stay, you can focus on different things: architectural and cultural history, a particular hike, or local traditions and cuisine. If you’re looking for a hotel in Tossa de Mar, these themes can help you decide what interests you most during your trip.
Vila Vella and historic buildings
The fortified Vila Vella is Tossa’s old town and the only preserved fortified medieval town on the Catalan coast. It was designated a historic-artistic monument in 1931. Sa Roqueta is also part of the town’s history: this traditional fishing district developed in the 16th century, when Tossa expanded beyond its town walls. The old town and the district thus reflect different periods in the town’s history.
Casa Sans offers another perspective through its Modernist architecture. Joan Sans commissioned the house from architect Antoni de Falguera in 1906. The sea-facing façade features Modernist gargoyles representing the four seasons. Another historical account is associated with the Capella dels Socors: it is said to have been built in 1593 by Antoni Caixa as a seafarer’s votive offering after he survived a shipwreck. This account remains one possible explanation for its origins.
Hikes between coast and mountains
The GR 92 long-distance trail crosses the municipality of Tossa de Mar from north to south and forms the backbone of five suggested routes. Some sections follow other waymarked footpaths. It is therefore important to keep track of your chosen route; check the trail markers and conditions locally before setting out.
A circular route goes around the Montllor mountains to Puig de ses Cadiretes. The summit is 519 metres high and is the highest point in the MassĂs d’Ardenya Cadiretes. From there, panoramic views extend across the surrounding area and Mediterranean forest. The coastal circular route to Pola Cove offers another clearly quantified hike: it is easy, 6.6 kilometres long and takes about two hours. These details make it easy to fit the walk into your stay; here too, you should check trail conditions locally.
Museums, lighthouse and local history
The Roman villa of Els Ametllers dates from the 1st century BC to the 5th century AD and was one of the most important villas in the ancient Roman province of Tarraco. The Museu de la Dona, by contrast, explores life in Tossa before the advent of tourism, focusing on women’s roles in fishing, household work and agriculture. It is housed in Can Ganga, a fortified house dating from the 16th century.
The lighthouse is also part of the town’s history: it was built in 1917 at the highest point of Cap de Tossa. A new museum project there is designed as an information centre about a century of maritime signals on the Costa Brava and the world of lighthouses. This topic complements the older stories of buildings and the town with the history of maritime signalling.
Traditions and cuisine
Pare Pelegrà 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, a traditional local dance, is also associated with Tossa. These customs offer a distinct way to experience the town’s culture, whether your stay is focused primarily on history or on the trails.
The local cuisine also reflects the town’s fishing history. Cim i tomba is a traditional dish of Tossa’s fishermen, prepared by generations of seafarers. Today, it is served as a local speciality on restaurant menus in Vila Vella. Together with the historic districts, museums and hiking options, it offers a range of themes around which to plan your stay in Tossa de Mar.
Discover more destinations: Agullana, Navata, Aiguaviva, Salt, Quart, Sant Gregori, Valveralla, BescanĂł.
Back to the overview of destinations: Girona.
