Tossademar

The Beauty of Tossa de Mar

Everyone knows (or most everyone) about the beauty and the rich cultural heritage found in Barcelona. For those of you who would like to enjoy a little Catalan hospitality without the bustle and pollution of a large European city, all you have to do is head up the coast from Barcelona to Tossa de Mar.

Tossa de Mar is located a little more than an hour’s drive or so (depending on traffic) north of Barcelona. This is where the famous Costa Bravo really starts to get rugged and hilly, which makes the way to Tossa de Mar all the more scenic, and the city that much more striking. This very old, and majestic former fishermen’s village and wine growing region is now an important stop for people who want to witness for themselves where ancient Roman and Spanish cultures collided.

The town is nestled in between steep hillsides and the sea, and guarded by the Vila Vella Enceinte, a medieval walled ‘old’ town that rises above the sandy beaches and shopping streets of the modern Tossa de Mar. When you arrive, you won’t mist it. The towers and walls of the Vila Vella Enceinte stand above everything else, and offer superb views over the town, the beaches and the Mediterranean Sea.

When the weather is nice, and it’s almost always nice, you can wander around the streets and narrow alleys and soak up the Catalan atmosphere. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants near the water where you can have a light snack or a heavy meal. Fish and seafood are on the menus, but you will also find regional cuisine as well. If you like garlic, eggplant, chicken and lamb, then the dishes you’ll happen upon in Tossa de Mar will surely appeal to your appetite. Even though tapas are not a specialty in this part of Spain, you’ll find more than enough of them to satisfy you while you are out and about town.

During the day, when it can be baking hot, you can take a dip in the cool Mediterranean, and make use of Tossa de Mar’s beautiful beaches. If you walk over the hill on the southern part of town, you’ll find El Codolar beach, behind the town walls, where you can have a bit more privacy than on the other beaches downtown.

Come summer, there are a fair number of tourists who make their way to this quaint destination, but it’s still really worth a visit, no matter what time of year you happen to go. It’s an extremely charming spot, located on a gorgeous part of Spanish coast, full of fun, food and sun, and a long and complex history.