Fall for Tossa and its hidden gems

The postcard picture of Tossa’s cape, showing the walls that protect the historic Vila Vella, is one of the most iconic shots of the Catalan coastline. Romantic and brimming with authenticity, this picturesque image captures the maritime Mediterranean atmosphere.

Tossa’s quiet coves and beaches, the sea awash with the colours of the sunrise, the cliffs lining the coast and the pristine natural surroundings make up a landscape that stirs and enthrals the senses.

Fall in love with Tossa, fall in love in Tossa.

Experience a film set in all its intensity

The scenic beauty of this incomparable setting, a source of inspiration for artists and the backdrop for novels and Hollywood films, leaves visitors to Tossa de Mar with memories of romance.

This landscape hosted “the most beautiful animal in the world”, a young Ava Gardner who couldn’t help bringing her countless love affairs and intrigues with “The Voice” in tow.

To discover the scenes that inspired painters, writers and film directors alike, come to Tossa and you’ll stumble across them without even trying. There’s no part of Tossa that hasn’t been framed, sculpted or praised.

A Vila protected from pirates

Explore this medieval seafaring village with its narrow houses and streets, surrounded and protected by a wall and watchtowers.

Let fishing tackle and the salty smell of the sea take you back to a time when traditions that are now ancient were born and legends were told by the fire.

The Vila Vella walled enclosure

Declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1931, the walled enclosure of the Vila Vella is the emblem of the municipality. It is currently the only remaining fortified mediaeval village on the Catalan coast.

Built in the early 13th century to protect the town from pirate attacks, the original enclosed area, with its battlements, has remained almost entirely intact.

Wandering leisurely through the Vila Vella (‘Old Town’) of Tossa de Mar invariably delights the senses. It is an unforgettable experience packed with unexpected discoveries.

The Tossa Pilgrim

Tradition has it that, in the 15th century, a plague struck the town and the people of Tossa called on Saint Sebastian to intercede on their behalf, promising they would go on pilgrimages to the nearest Saint Sebastian chapel every year thereafter.

Since then, on 20 January each year, the Pilgrim Father walks to the chapel of Sant Sebastià in Santa Coloma de Farners in representation of the town, together with whoever wishes to accompany him, and returns to Tossa the following day.

For the people of Tossa, this is a highly respected tradition, an act of religious contemplation and devotion.

Hidden gems:  what you didn’t expect to find

Tossa’s best-guarded treasures have to be experienced from the fringes, away from the crowds: enjoy the beach in autumn; stroll through a blooming Vila Vella in May; walk along the coastal path soaking up the beauty of the landscape and then stop for a leisurely food break in winter; take a dive at any time of year to explore a richly biodiverse seabed; climb onto a SUP board in the off-season to enjoy the boat-free sea and get a new perspective on the coast from the water.

Beaches

Tossa has a wide range of different beaches – urban, secluded, steep or gentle-sloped, intimate, romantic or family-friendly, hidden, nudist, turquoise and green, in the shelter of cliffs or at the foot of a unique monument… and the water is always crystal-clear.

Did you know that one of our most iconic beaches is considered among the best in the world?

So, whether you’re into sailing, soaking up the sun in stunning settings, or just sitting in the sand with family or friends, you’ll find your perfect beach paradise in Tossa.

Tossa’s seabed

Tossa’s coastline boasts one of the most striking stretches of the Costa Brava, a succession of cliffs and rocky outcrops, interspersed with small emerald tinted beaches and coves.

The coastline extends into the sea, offering a spectacular underwater landscape of vertical walls, coral reefs, caves, crevices, and sandy and rocky seabeds, all teeming with life, ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling.

The co-existence of these varied habitats promotes a rich biodiversity: Posidonia meadows, gorgonians, dusky groupers, conger eels, moray eels, octopuses, lobsters, dentex, scorpionfish, John Dory, anglers, white seabream, small nudibranchs, and even seahorses and sunfish.

Go green

Green is a source of calm and well-being, so immersing yourself in green is a good way to lose and find yourself at the same time, to let go of your day-to-day life and reconnect with the inner you, to stop and breathe, or, if you like, to reactivate and recharge.

The Cadiretes Massif

Tossa is not just a seaside town, it’s also a town of the mountains, which means it is surrounded by green spaces, as far as the sea. This area where microclimates meet is part of the town’s most important heritage: it’s where green and blue landscapes, springs, brooks, animal and plant species, smells, silences, dolmens and farmhouses all converge.

The rugged coastline is exceptionally beautiful. To make the most of it, we recommend following the winding road linking Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols which takes you across the coastal part of the massif from one side to the other.

Another way to explore the Cadiretes Massif, covering the terrain at your own pace, is to follow the signposted trails that leave from Sa Riera Park, either on foot or by mountain bike.

Paths and nature

Say no to mobile phones, schedules, emails and noise and visual pollution and say yes to calm, silence, peace, fresh air, the open forests, the simple things, the old days.

Take any one of the paths leading into the Cadiretes Massif, the land where our ancestors lived, and walk along the paths well-trodden by cork gatherers, former colliers and shepherds. Explore the mountainous area that was a way of life for so many generations of Tossa dwellers, walk amidst small megalithic gems, cork oak and pine forests, breathing in the scent of rosemary and rush broom, feast your eyes on the landscapes and soak up their positive energy!

Sunrises: don’t miss out on Tossa’s beauty for a lie-in!

Do you need a moment of peace and quiet to lose and find yourself at the same time? Do you collect those moments in which time appears to stand still?

Then you’d better catch a Tossa sunrise, to see a new day unfurling, to embrace the silence, giving you strength, releasing tension, regenerating the mind and allowing you to feel the energy of this blue paradise. Under the cover of dawn, with the Mediterranean as witness to this morning scene, it’s well-worth getting up early for this natural spectacle which, although it takes place every day, never fails to be unique and extraordinary.

If you treasure those magic times of day, you’ll never forget the cascade of colours of the morning’s golden hour.

Whoever experiences it wants to relive this moment of harmony and calm. So, get up early and enjoy it!

The Sa Roqueta neighbourhood

Short, narrow, sun-beaten, colourful, hidden, stepped, cobbled and always unique … the streets of Sa Roqueta are perfect for wandering down and exploring at your leisure.

This traditional fisher’s neighbourhood with its humble homes, flowery corners and the scent of the sea merging with home-cooked food, keeps the essence of the Mediterranean intact.

The interesting thing about Sa Roqueta, in fact, the thing that gives it its name, is that it was built on living rock. We can see this in Can Ganga, now the Women’s Museum, which boasts a perfectly preserved pantry, carved out of the rock.

Can Ganga, the Women’s Museum

Can Ganga is a fine example of a fortified farmhouse. It was built to be resistant because, at the time of its construction, it stood alone close to the sea and would’ve been an easy target for pirates. The building has a magnificent rounded doorway with a machicolation extending out over it to offer protection against potential pirate raids. Its Gothic windows, with beautifully sculpted cherubs, are also noteworthy.

This farmhouse currently houses the Women’s Museum, which has been open since 2020 and aims to recreate and illustrate life in Tossa before the advent of tourism and the transformation of the town, all from the perspective of the women who lived there.

SAVOUR

the best of the Mediterranean gastronomy

Menu