Tossa de mar spain attractions. Tossa de mar, spain. Duplex en Cala Salions Apartment

18 places of interest in Tossa de Mar

general information

Tossa de Mar or Tossa is a beautiful Catalan city on the Costa Brava, Spain. Since the beginning of the last century, it has been a favorite vacation spot of wealthy Europeans.

It is part of the Catalonia community and the province of Girona.

The city is only 12 km from Lloret de Mar, and perhaps not so noisy.

From Barcelona, \u200b\u200bTossa de Mar is 90 km to the north of the country.

The population of the town is about 6000 people. The town lives a measured, leisurely life. Holidays here will be enjoyed by couples with children and those who want to stay away from noisy parties.

Tossa de Mar  (a photo)

Here is the famous coastal monument - the medieval fortified city of Villa Vella, built in the Middle Ages and to this day is well preserved. At the very top of the fortress is the lighthouse Camino de la Luz, which has been operating since 1917

Official website of the city:

http://www.tossademar.com/

Vila Velha (Villa Vella) (photo)

What to see

Sights of Tossa de Mar:

Churches

Palaces, castles, fortresses

Museums

Markets

Streets, boulevards and squares

Gardens and parks

Sights of Tossa de Mar on the map:

Helpful information:

You can view and download the city map on the city information website:

http://www.infotossa.com/images/dbfolletos/Tossa-planolA4.pdf

Download Tossa de Mar Restaurant Guide:
http://www.infotossa.com/images/dbfolletos/guiarestaurants.pdf

Things to do

Planning a visit to Tossa de Mar is within the reach of any novice traveler. Information on the Internet about this resort is a huge amount. In addition, tours from leading agencies are offered to this small Catalan town from Russia. A reasonable question arises: why write a review about a place whose theme is disclosed and described hundreds of times?

For myself, I found the answer to this question already on the second day of my stay in Tossa de Mar. Lazy, limited to the city beach and half-board hotel, package tourists do not see the real beauty of this place, because they simply do not reach these places. They write reviews about the fortress, the city beach, rarely anyone goes beyond the scope of this template. How, in fact, you need to spend time in Tossa de Mar is described below.

How to get to Tossa de Mar

Near Tossa de Mar, there are two cities that accept international flights from Russia: Barcelona and Girona. There is no direct railway connection between Tossa and these cities, so you need to get either by taxi or by public transport - by bus.

From Barcelona: buses leave from the bus station - Barcelona Nord Bus Station, almost every hour. The cost of 12 euros one way, on the way about 2 hours. If desired, you can also take a direct flight from Barca El Plat Airport. Flights are slightly smaller, the schedule can be found at the office. carrier website. The price is about 14 euros.

From Girona: Victory flew here relatively recently, I have no personal experience of traveling to Tossa from Girona. I can only say with confidence that the same company Sarfa carries out transportation, there is a schedule on their website.

We went to Tossa from Barcelona, \u200b\u200bfrom the Nord bus station. Returned direct flight to El Plat airport. Since it was Sunday, evening, we got into pretty serious traffic jams. Instead of 2 hours we drove about 3.5. So you need to leave the airport from Tossa de Mar, taking into account a possible delay of 1-2 hours.

Tossa de Mar: Beaches, Fortress, City

Still, I decided to write a few general words about the city for those who know little about it.

Tossa de Mar is a purely Spanish resort town. Very cozy and quiet. There are no clubs, bars or any other nightlife. From early morning until sunset, people languidly lie on the beaches, which are three:

Gran Beach (Platja Gran)

The largest beach, which is located in a bay opposite the boardwalk. As a rule, the people here are always the most. A place for the laziest, walked a couple of hundred meters, stuck an umbrella and fell until the evening. At sunset this place looks very pretty.

Mar Menuda Beach

If you face the sea on Gran, then this beach will be 3 minutes to the left. There are fewer people here, the sand is cleaner, you can swim into the rocks with a mask, look at the sea bass, sea urchins.

View from the fortress to Mar Menuda at sunset

Kodolar Beach (Platja Es Codolar)

Located to the right of Gran, a 3-minute walk. The smallest and most comfortable beach. View from above.

When we had free time, we bathed and sunbathed on Kodolar or Mar Menude alternately. Gran I do not advise.

In the evening, people fill the promenade, which houses very decent restaurants of Spanish cuisine.

Before or after dinner, as a rule, people rise to the ancient fortress, which offers beautiful views of the city and the bay.

By 10 pm, satisfied and well-fed tourists wander around their hotels and rooms, the city is falling asleep.

Probably 99% of tourists spend it every day in Tossa de Mar for a week or two. Depending on how many people came here. This town is simply made for such a lazy and laid-back holiday.

But, in my opinion, all the most interesting in Tossa de Mar is located outside the city beaches and streets with restaurants. To see and appreciate the Costa Brava, we spent a couple of days on hiking trails, which I highly recommend to everyone.

Hiking Trails in Tossa de Mar

I don’t know why, but Google maps do not show observation decks or paths along the coast in the vicinity of Tossa. Therefore, I roughly drew the lines along which we passed. There is no problem with mapsme maps, all paths, no matter how wild they are displayed. To go on a hike, you don’t need a special mind, you can conditionally distinguish two routes: go left and go right, that's all. But, most of the tourists tired of the sun, about these places are not in the know.

1st route

The first section of the path is very simple, both a pensioner and a child will master. Trail equipped with handrails. There are pointers. but even if they weren’t, there is only one road along the coast. After several viewing, a few people slowly fall off and come back, as the road begins to deteriorate and slowly turns into a path, in some places quite dangerous.

To see truly mesmerizing views, you have to climb through the wilds, uphill and from the mountain. But it's worth it.

Only a few kilometers later the trail brought us down to the rocky shore. if you wish, you can swim here in splendid isolation. At first glance, people rarely get here.

If you continue further along the coast, you can go to the campsite Cala Lievado and the beaches. On the map, this route takes only about 2.5 km. But the map does not take into account the terrain and conditions for movement. In some places, the sites are quite complex and dangerous. Sometimes the road diverges in several directions, sometimes a section is generally impassable and you have to go back and look for another way. If you do not rush and be careful, then in principle there is nothing complicated.

In time, such a trip will take about 5-6 hours, taking into account a leisurely inspection of all places, swimming on a rock at the end. Afraid of snakes or any other living creatures is not worth it. Here they simply do not exist, these are the features of nature and climate.

2nd route

Now you need to go to the other side, to the left, through the beach of Mar Menuda and further along the coast.

On this route, signs can be found on all sections, people are more common here and the road is extremely simple. Anyone can handle it.

The route is divided into two parts. The first section passes through the forest with the subsequent exit onto Av. Vila de blanes and to the observation deck. The top photo is just from her. Again, about half of the tourists, and even more, are turning around here, since the trail went onto the highway, it seems that this is the end of the route. It is necessary to walk 200-300 meters along the road, then turn back into the forest, the sign will be. Photo below from the second part.

We finished the walk in the small bay of Cala Bona, here you can go down to a small beach and swim with a mask.

If you wish, it’s kind of like you can go further, but we didn’t succeed. Climbing over a rock was too dangerous, but there was no desire to go around it. In time, this walk takes about 2-3 hours. Another hour can be spent swimming in Cala Bona Bay.

Restaurants in Tossa de Mar

Spanish cuisine, in my opinion, is one of the best in terms of seafood. I simply could not mention this. On the boardwalk along Gran Beach, there are a lot of good restaurants where you can taste the wonderful Sea Bass, Dorado or lobster. We tried the cuisine in at least 7 restaurants. One of them I want to distinguish from the others, this is Restaurant La Cuina de l’Avia. Marked on the map. Paella, mussels, shrimp, lobster, steak, sangria - everything was great. In the evening, it’s always the turn here, you will either have to wait until the table is empty, or book in advance. Recommend.

Holidays in Tossa de Mar

For those traveling to this resort town of Costa Brava, I advise you to definitely walk along the coast. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed for the rest of your life. Such sorties are best done in the morning, while the heat is not at its peak.

In terms of choice of housing, it all depends on specific financial opportunities, it is best to live on the first or second / third coastline. Although, the town itself is not large and even from the most distant hotels on foot to Grana is no more than 10-15 minutes.

This time we are exploring the city of Tossa de Mar (Spain). The sights of this place will surprise even the most seasoned tourists.

Vila Vella Fortress

It was built about 1000 years ago, and it is almost the oldest building in the country. Throughout its existence, the fortress is under the care of the church, protecting the monastery from worldly fuss. The fact is that in 1989 the part of the town where Vila Vella was located belonged to the church and was a place of pilgrimage. In the Middle Ages, walls served as protection against pirate raids. Since then, a lot of events have passed and time has passed, the castle turned into ruins.

Two centuries after the construction of Vila Vella, a reconstruction took place, which returned the fortress to its original appearance. But she is far from the last. The territory of Vila Vella is surrounded by ramparts. Four large and three small round towers are located behind the wall. The art museum is located in one of them.

Statue of Ava Gardner

The statue of the famous Hollywood actress Ava Gardner is another place for a tourist trip. She, along with Mario Cabre, played the main role in the melodrama Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, which was filmed here. Soon, the actor fell in love with the movie star, and her husband - Frank Sinatra - arrived in the city, but was late, as the girl fell in love with herself, but not Mario, but the city of Tossa de Mar. This was the main reason for the erection of a bronze statue of Ava Gardner in 1992.

The image of the statue is taken from the already mentioned film - dressed in a luxurious evening dress, the girl admires the endless expanses of the Mediterranean Sea.

Church of St. Vicente

The church of St. Vicente, which was built in 1755, is made in the neoclassical style. She appeared on the site of the temple, destroyed in the XV century, as it was too crowded for parishioners who constantly visited it.

Partially, the elements of the interior decoration disappeared during the Civil War, but after the restoration of the church they returned to their original appearance and restored the mural. Statues of saints adorn the main entrance to the temple and the most beautiful altar, in the church itself there are two-row benches.

A copy of the Black Madonna is the main asset of the church of St. Vicente. Near the church there is also a small chapel, inside which there are many candles.

Vassal Oath Tower

Probably, the Tower of the Vassal oath in Tossa de Mar is one of the leading attractions of the city. It was the stone walls of the tower that glorified it. It is located near the bay. A small trading port is located right in it. The stone silently recalls the past greatness of the formidable defenders of the city.

Generation Monument

A monument to generations located on the Mediterranean coast. The idea of \u200b\u200bthe creator of the sculpture is that the old man conveys the accumulated experience to the little grandson. Perhaps that is why some people think that this is a kind of family idyll. A touching composition penetrates the hearts of even the strongest cynics.

Monument to the lonely girl

In Tossa de Mar there is another small sculpture that captivates tourists with its gloom. Monument to a lonely girl is an original composition. It depicts a little girl holding a basket in her hands. It stands near the walls of the castle-castle of Vella Vella.

At night, the composition looks a little frightening, because, wandering the streets, you do not expect to see a gloomy childish figure with his head bowed. The creator wanted to affect the feelings of parents leaving children alone or not paying attention to them, so that they feel how lonely and scary their children are.

Sculpture "Love of two octopuses"

The original futuristic sculpture “Love of two octopuses” fits perfectly into the architecture of the small square, which is located near the Central Office for Tourism.

This original sculpture can be found while traveling along one of the roads, or rather, in the area of \u200b\u200btheir intersection, on Lloret Street. The sculpture resembles a cube with the bodies and tentacles of octopuses intertwined in it.

Chapel of San Miguel

Near the train station in Tossa de Mar is the small chapel of San Miguel. It is located right next to the old hospital for the poor, built in 1773. Now she plays the role of the local House of Culture. The chapel was erected at the same time as the hospital and for a long period of time was a hospital church.

The chapel was named after the famous saint in Spain - Miguel. It stands out from ordinary temples with a pronounced transition from a romantic to a Gothic style.

The horseshoe-shaped arch, which is the right side entrance, attracts attention, and the left arch is made in the usual Gothic style. Inside the church has a small dome and an unusual altar, made in the Baroque style with a portrait of St. Miguel.

Tim and Ket Jewelery Store

A small shop, Tim and Ket Jewellry, belongs to a couple in love with their work and each other. It is located on Carrer la Guardia street and is a successful creative project of Belgian designers.

In this tiny boutique, jewelers who draw their inspiration from the beauty of the coast create beautiful jewelry from silver and precious stones. In the shop you can buy various bags, bracelets, pendants and necklaces, made by the hands of the masters, and if you didn’t like anything, you can order exclusive wedding rings.

Kodolar Beach

Kodolar Beach is one of the largest beaches located close to the center of the town. Before the beach was used by tourists and landscaped, it was the place where fisherman boats wintered. By the way, they are now.

The sand of the beach is mixed with sea pebbles, which is polished with sea water and time. Kodolar is surrounded by cliffs that do not allow wind, and calm waters are always in demand among divers and bathers. Here you can see dolphins that swim only a hundred meters from the coast.

Now you know what Tossa de Mar (Spain) is fraught with. The sights of the city are always open for you, and you can go there right now.

How to get to Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar is considered both the most picturesque and northernmost resort of Catalonia. The picturesque resort is credited because of its location - Tossa de Mar is located in a cozy quiet bay between the rocky cliffs. Well, the resort is considered to be northern because the border with France already lies further. The north is rather arbitrary, the swimming season here also lasts from June to September inclusive, in summer the temperature is moderately warm within +25, +28 degrees with little rainfall. Tossa de Mar is located 85 km north of Barcelona.

Of the ways to get to Tossa de Mar, the most relevant is the flight to Barcelona. Flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg fly all year round, from other major cities of Russia - in the summer. A flight from Moscow to Barcelona lasts an average of 4.5 hours. You can refine the schedule of flights from your city on international search sites Aviasales, Buruki  and others.

You can get from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar in various ways - by bus, train, taxi or transfer. If you need to get from Barcelona Airport to Tossa de Mar directly, use the bus of the carrier Moventis sarfa. Buses to Tossa de Mar depart every hour during the day, starting from 07.10 in the morning. Travel time is 2 hours 15 minutes. Ticket price per person - 14.25 euros. You can buy tickets immediately before boarding or in advance on the carrier’s website. Dispatch is made from both terminals of El Prat Airport.

You can also get directly from Barcelona Airport to Tossa de Mar by taxi or transfer. Taxis are usually on duty at the exit of the airport terminal. If you do not know the city and are not guided by local prices, then in order not to overpay taxi drivers, you can pre-book a transfer from the airport to the resort. The advantage of the transfer is also that by the time of your arrival, you will already be waiting for a car of the selected class and a driver with a sign. Travel time will be about 1 hour 25 minutes. You can clarify the relevant information on the transfer on the transfer booking sites ,   and others.

You can also get from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar by train with a change in Blanes. To do this, you need to Barcelona Station Barcelona Pl. Catalunya take the R1 train to Blanes. Electric trains run every half hour throughout the day, travel time - 1.5 hours. You can specify more detailed information on the railway service . Then change to a local carrier bus in Blanes Pujol , which goes directly to Tossa de Mar, travel time is another 40 minutes. This method is the cheapest, but also the most time consuming.

When choosing a way to get to Tossa de Mar, you need to remember that public transport only works in the daytime. For night crossings, you can use only a round-the-clock taxi or transfer services.

  Tossa de Mar Hotels

In the resort you can find hotels of any category of stars, but Tossa de Mar 4 star hotels are especially popular, the price range of such hotels coincides with the prices at neighboring resorts, for example, in Lloret de Mar or Blanes. 3 star hotels of Tossa de Mar are also well-known because of their affordable price. Apartments in the resort can be found in almost any price range, those options that are located far from the sea will cost less.

Delfín, 4 stars

Hotel Delfín is one of the best hotels in Tossa de Mar due to its location on the first beach line, a rooftop terrace with panoramic views and hydromassage, a restaurant and a flowered garden. The main attractions of the city are within walking distance, including the famous fortress. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi. Private parking is available nearby upon reservation.

The hotel offers accommodation in rooms of various capacities. They are all equipped with telephone, satellite TV, safe, air conditioning, iron, hairdryer, kettle, minibar. Some rooms have a balcony. Breakfast may be included in the price, depending on the type of room. The hotel received the best reviews for its cleanliness and comfort in the rooms, as well as for its location.

The hotel has luggage storage, tour desk. Reception is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 12.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of hotel accommodation for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Florida, 3 stars

The hotel is located within walking distance of the beach and 500 meters from Tossa de Mar Fortress. The hotel has a sun terrace, hydromassage, bar. Free Wi-Fi and private, paid parking is available on site upon reservation.

The hotel has rooms of various capacities, all of them are equipped with TV, telephone, safe, air conditioning, hairdryer, mini fridge. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel received the highest ratings for its staff work and location.

The hotel has luggage storage, tour desk, currency exchange. Reception is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 13.00, check-out is until 12.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of hotel accommodation for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

GHT Neptuno, 3 stars

Among the hotels of Tossa de Mar 3 stars, this is well located near the center of the resort and a 5-minute walk to the nearest beach. The hotel itself is surrounded by a garden, has a restaurant, pool, lounge area. Wi-Fi is free. Private paid parking is available nearby (reservation must be made in advance).

Hotel guests can stay in single, double or triple rooms. Each room is equipped with a safe, air conditioning, hairdryer, telephone, TV. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel received the best ratings for the cleanliness of the rooms, the location and the work of the staff.

The hotel has luggage storage, tour desk, currency exchange. Reception is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 12.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of hotel accommodation for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Duplex en Cala Salions Apartment

Located in front of the beach, this apartment in Tossa de Mar, Spain offers sea views. The apartments are duplex and have 3 bedrooms. It offers free Wi-Fi and free public parking. The apartments are equipped with a TV, washing machine, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, kettle, stove, oven, toaster, coffee machine. There is a terrace, equipped with furniture. Additionally, cleaning of the apartment for the entire stay in the amount of 70 euros is paid.

This new accommodation option in Tossa de Mar, open for reservations from April 2017. Check-in is from 17.00, check-out is until 10.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of living in apartments for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Casa Montse Apartment

These two-story apartments are located in a quiet, peaceful place with a pool and garden. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi. In the apartments you can find a TV, iron, washing machine, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, kettle, oven, stove, toaster, coffee machine, barbecue. The apartment has 2 bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen. An extra charge of cleaning for the entire stay in the amount of 70 euros.

Check-in is from 16.00, check-out is until 11.00. You can find out more about the availability and cost of living in apartments for specific dates on the booking website Booking.com.

Speed \u200b\u200bKore / Tossa de Mar

  Attractions Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar resort is located in a rocky bay, its very location already indicates that the main attractions of the place are natural. Firstly, it is the coastline of Tossa de Mar, represented by 14 kilometers of beaches, cliffs, grottoes and bays. It is definitely worth taking a walk along a special walking route along the Costa Brava to see all the beauties of Tossa de Mar with your own eyes, including the medieval fortress of Villa Vella, one of the main attractions of the resort. Secondly, it is the old part of the city with many preserved architectural monuments and the Sa Riera Botanical Garden, which can be a great place for a walk on a hot summer day.

On the outskirts of Tossa de Mar, in a picturesque rocky bay lurking medieval fortress Villa Vella, which was built in the 12th century. This is a kind of city in the city, there are roads, towers, a fortress, walls and even a museum, which is considered one of the first museums in Spain dedicated to contemporary art. A picturesque walking road leads to the fortress, allowing you to see the beauty of the Costa Brava. Rest in Tossa de Mar is hard to imagine without visiting this attraction, which is the "postcard" and the most recognizable view of the town.

Sa Riera Park  located on 5 hectares of land, close to the resort center. What can a tourist see here? On the territory of the botanical garden you can see many exotic plants, a pond with its inhabitants, centuries-old oaks and pines. In addition, the park has a playground, an indoor pool, a football field, jogging paths, fountains - everything for an active pastime.

A popular leisure activity in Tossa is visiting neighboring, larger cities, such as Barcelona or Girona. Other popular destinations are Port Aventura Theme Park, Montserrat Mountain and Monastery, southern France and others. You can get on your own or with a group bus tour. The list of group excursions from Tossa de Mar can be studied and booked on the service Tezeks.com  (from tour operator TEZ TOUR).

Beaches of Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar is famous for its beaches. In addition to the traditional beach holiday, tourists can go diving, spearfishing, snorkeling. For this, the resort even runs special schools that teach underwater sports. The beaches in Tossa de Mar can be both sandy and pebble, depending on the proximity to the rocky bay.

The most popular and sought after beaches in Tossa de Mar are Gran Beach, which is equipped with everything you need, including sun loungers, deck chairs, umbrellas, toilets, showers, bars and outdoor cafes. The resort also has several unequipped secluded beaches, such as Reig and Mar Menuda. These beaches are more suitable for a relaxing beach holiday, the first is sandy, the second is pebble. Snorkeling is best done on Es Codolar Beach.

To learn more about the beaches and resorts of Catalonia, about interesting routes and places, as well as about useful life hacks when preparing for a trip to Spain, you can in a separate guide to .

We will be happy to answer your questions in the comments!

Going on a trip to Spain, do not forget to apply for a travel insurance policy, which is mandatory already at the stage of obtaining a tourist visa. You can take out insurance yourself without leaving your home. There are special services for this, such as , other. You can purchase a policy online, and then print it on a regular printer.

Photo at the beginning of the article: Alex Alishevskikh

April 26th, 2013, 12:05 pm

Only on the third day, after admiring the fortress from the shore and from the sea while taking a boat trip to Lloret, we went to the fortress along a paved stone serpentine road to see Vila Vella from the inside, touch medieval stones, live a moment in history, in order to feel the spirit of antiquity, peace and tranquility.

The history of this town dates back thousands of years. The first inhabitants appeared in Tossa de Mar back in the Neolithic times, 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 was received by the city doctor Ignacio Mele in 1914: an amateur archaeologist discovered the ruins of an ancient Roman villa in the city preserved mosaics of the 4th century AD, on which the name and title of its owner are immortalized and the city of Turissa is mentioned - “Salvo Vitale Felix Turissa Ex Oficina Felices”. Further years of excavation confirmed the assumption that Turissa, Tursa (the predecessor of Tossa) was a prosperous Roman city.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Tossa de Mar became part of the Goths kingdom, later, in the 8th century, the Arabs occupied the town, 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 fortified and played the role of a protective 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 became preoccupied with 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” - the Old Town, 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, watch towers stood. Usually they towered over the bays in strategically important places. Inside was a permanent post that monitored the sea. In case of danger, sentinels gave a signal during the day with smoke, and at night with fire. The signal was transmitted along the chain from tower to tower and the city, to which danger was approaching, had time to organize defense. These towers were called "Moorish", it was the Moors who introduced such a signal system. As soon as the threat came, the townspeople locked the main gate and proceeded to defense. The gates of the city had two doors. In case of danger, the space between the doors was covered with sandbags, making the entrance to the city very difficult. To the main gate to this day you can see the tower. Once it housed the only public clock in the city. Gradually, the name “sentinel” was assigned to it.

The walls themselves were already built in the 12th and 13th centuries, and in the form that reached us were completed by the end of the fourteenth century - in 1387. Three cylindrical towers on the ramparts of the city have their own names: Torre de Sodolar (Torre del Codolar), Torre de les Hores and Torre de Joanas (Torre d "en Joanàs). The old church of San The Vicens of the 15th century and the governor's palace (the house of the governor) of the 14th century, in addition, about 80 fort houses reached us 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. The new city is not much younger than the Old. The part of the city that was simply built outside the walls of the fortress, is called new. In this part of the city, new houses coexist and intertwine with 19th-century houses. This city is reminiscent of one large house, to which, as needed, new rooms are added for the growing relatives.

The houses on the narrow streets of the old city still belong to the descendants of the fishermen living in Tossa.
The church of Sant Vicenc in the center, behind it on the hill on the left is the tower of Torre deis Moros.

It is traditionally believed that coastal settlements were necessarily fishing, as for this city, this is not entirely true. Yes, several families are engaged in fishing here and now, 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 demand for cork oak bark fell - cork industry, together with short-distance trading, formed the basis for the prosperity of this region. The outflow of residents from Tossa began, many went to other cities in Spain. For the second time, Tossa was discovered by artists in the 1920s and 1930s. Tossa is proud that one of the first to come here was Marc Chagall, and after him other artists came to this picturesque fishing town. Here masters such as Andre Mason, Joaquin Miro and Tsuguharu Fujita rested and worked; at one time so many artists from all over the world came here that Toss was 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 a relaxing holiday 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 color. During its heyday (XV-XVI centuries), the Old Town united about 80 houses, most of which retained the size established by the charter of the settlement (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 XVIII and XX centuries it underwent strong architectural changes. The museum contains artwork and artifacts from archaeological sites in the Tossa de Mar area.

From Tossa de Mar beach, according to the schedule, ships go, to the neighboring beaches of Lloret de Mar and Blanes with a transparent bottom, you can observe the flora and fauna of the 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.

A quiet and beautiful place where rocky bays alternate with small beaches. Tossa de Mar is notable for its rocky shores, sea cliffs, narrow straits, turning into deep grottoesromantic bays with andthe emerald color of water, quiet streets, which you can walk along for days on end, constantly finding new, unexplored places.

How fascinating it is - to watch the sea beating against the rocks below - for centuries without changing this order.
Panorama of the sea and the waves! Unforgettable impression!

Not far from the Old Town you can see the remains of a Roman settlement of 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 foundation of a chapel of the 12th century, towered on a fifty-meter cliff. But, despite its spectacular location, she stopped tripling the townspeople. Too small a church could not accommodate parishioners. The population was growing. In the sixteenth century, the city no longer fits inside the fortress, and the first buildings begin along the road leading to the city. The quarter outside the walls was called the “new city”. It was there that between 1755 and 1776 a new neo-Gothic style temple was built. 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 a windmill was built first, later a lighthouse.

Along the cliff from the sea near the observation deck of the lighthouse, cacti grow and bear fruit, in Tossa shops I saw them for sale. I heard that this is a cactus fig. I had never seen him alive before and had never tried him. And now I could not decide on this. Nevertheless, I bought a few pieces, put it in hot water from under the tap in my room so that the thorns went limp, cleaned the peel, cut it and saw that there were a lot of bones inside, like small pebbles. So they then prevented me from understanding and feeling the taste of cactus figs to the end. I think this is the first and last experience of trying these fruits)). Already at home I found out more about them. Here's what they write on the networks:
"Common names are Native American fig, Indian fig, prickly pear, sabr, tsabr, fayg.
Fruits are pale green, light yellow, slightly red or lilac in color, similar to spiny cones of a pleasant color. Inside the fruit contains a whitish translucent flesh, 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 open them and try. The content of the file is more than amazing. First of all, the color saturation of the pulp attracts, this indicates a high content of natural dyes. They have antioxidative properties as carriers of free radicals. The high antioxidative potential of the fileg cactus, and this has already been confirmed by scientific research, protects our cells and organs from degenerative processes and diseases. What can not but affect the condition of the skin, kidneys or blood vessels.
The pulp of the fruit is very juicy, sweet, soft, pleasant yellow, orange or red; it quenches thirst well. Recently, a new and elegant fashion has appeared to drink freshly made juice from the pulp of the fruits of the feigue cactus. "
I did not understand this)).

And it blooms palm tree on the observation deck at the lighthouse.

On the rock near the fortress is the lighthouse of Tossa de Mar Camino de la Luz, whose name translates as "Way of Light" today rises above the ruins of an ancient castle. In fact, the current lighthouse is not so ancient, since it was built only in 1917. In the last century, the building survived a major fire, and was then completely renovated. The popularity of the lighthouse among tourists is due primarily to 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 also get acquainted with the history of the lighthouses of the Mediterranean Sea, their work and structure. The museum displays various lighthouse lamps and navigation aids. 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 enjoy sea views. Seagulls live on the rocks.

On the observation deck at the lighthouse.

Over that mountain in the distance we also climbed, there are luxurious villas with pools and flower greenhouses, beautiful!))

In the mid-twentieth century, a boom in world tourism to Spain began. And the Costa Brava, and in the place with him and Tossa de Mar were no exception. In 1950, Hollywood chose Toss for the filming of the film "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman." The main roles in the film about the love of the bullfighter for the beautiful foreigner were played by Ava Gardner and Mario Cabre. In life, everything happened almost like in a film: Mario Cabre could not resist the charm of Ava and fell madly in love with her. Rumors have been rushing 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 with her during filming. Ava really fell in love. But not in Mario Cabre, but in Spain, where she lived for eight years after filming the film. Many years later, in 1992, the actress, who is still considered the most beautiful woman in the world in Tos, was given a bronze sculpture: Ava Gardner is standing 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 Toss de Mar, behind it on a hill the Torre deis Moros tower is clearly visible, and the road to it, which goes up the mountain, on which we climbed on the first day, I already spoke about this earlier.

This monument was erected at the beginning of the ascent to the fortress; in photo No. 4 it is visible from above.

The vast city beach borders on one side with a rugged rocky shore, 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 its walls offer amazing views of the sea below. The coastline of Tossa de Mar spans 14 kilometers. The length of the central city beach of Platja Gran is 430 m, the width is on average 45 m.

Beach Platja Gran.

Returning to the beach on the same road that went up to the very top of Vila Vella, to the lighthouse, we decided to explore the next mountain from the lagoon, go down the stairs to the very top and walk through beautiful, as if uninhabited places. But first, it was necessary to take a break, have lunch, which we did in a cafe on the shore, it took a little more than an hour to do it, having eaten, went to the foot of the mountain at the Kodolar tower.

Climbing to the next mountain began from this place, from the Kodolar tower, one of the three towers of the wall, which retained its original name. The name Codolar means "rock formed on the seashore." You can immediately see the beach with coarse sand mixed with pebbles and other rocks polished with sea water. Since 2007, the Kodolar Tower has housed the Museum of Modern Art.

Stones, pines and the sea merge into a single image of the fabulous Tossa. In the distance, at the very top of the Old Town mountain, you can see the lighthouse and the walls of the fortress, we are at the foot of the neighboring mountain, at the Kodolar tower.

The way up is not easy, and the view of the city and the sea is magnificent! In the center is the Kodolar Tower.

The road to the top of a nearby mountain.

This is also one of the main beaches of Tossa de Mar Platja Codolar. It is slightly hidden in the corner under the tower of the Old Town, Kodolar Tower. The beach of Platja Codolar, El Kodolar, 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. Relaxing here is a pleasure. Sometimes people do not 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. Its length is about 80 meters and a width of 70 meters. The city beach has been awarded the Blue Flag. The water area of \u200b\u200bthe beach is deep, the current is fast, which is dangerous for those who can not swim. Small rocky ledges along the coast are also quite dangerous, despite the strength of the rocks composing them.

Tossa is an amazing city. Once you get here, you want to come back again and again. There is bewitching magic in its narrow streets, the old fortress and, of course, in the sea. But even it cannot outshine Tossa ...