Inaccessible cliffs washed by waves of the Balearar Sea, and air, saturated with the aroma of the Iberian pines: the Spanish coast of Costa-Brava will leave few indifferent. A small city of Tossa de Mar is considered his pearl. And not without reason: the famous artist Mark Shagal called him only “Paradis Bleu” (Paradis Bleu ”, and in the 50s the film“ Pandora and the Flying Dutchman ”with the Hollywood star Ava Gardner was shot here.
Walk along the labyrinths of an ancient fortress, taste the fish dishes of Catalan cuisine and be plentiful in one of the picturesque bays: we tell how to spend an unforgettable vacation in Tosse-de-Mar.
Entrance rules
Russians will need a Schengen visa. Now Spain is one of the most loyal countries in relation to Russian tourists in terms of visas issuing. The cost of paperwork is 80 euros for an adult (about 8,000 rubles*).
Location
From the north, the Cadiretes-Ardeni, which was protected by the Mountain Messen, the city of Tossa de-Mar is removed from the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona, a hundred kilometers, and the same amount from the southern coast of France. The main stream of tourists, as a rule, settles in larger cities of Costa Brava, for example, in Blanes or Lloreta de Mar, so Toss has a reputation as an exclusive resort. Even in the dopandemic years, Russian tourists could rarely meet here: the city is more popular among the local population and Europeans. It is also convenient to get to other cities of Girona province. For example, before the homeland of Salvador Dali, Cadakes, or Figurass, where the artist theater is located.
How to get
The airports closest to the Tos-de-Mar are in Barcelona and Girona. There are flights from Russia with a transplant in Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Baku, the prices for tickets back and forth start from 50,000 rubles*.
From the Barcelona airport you can take a taxi to Tossa (about 170-190 euros) or get a bus (the ticket cost of about 15 euros). Travel time is about 1.5–2.5 hours, depending on traffic jams.
Where to stop
- Hotel Turissa (estimate 8.3) – the hotel has a convenient location (about 10 minutes to the sea, there is a bus station and a street with shops). The cost of one night in a double room starts from 10,000 rubles*.
- Encantador Apartamento En Tossa de Mar (Assessment 9.5) – apartments in the very center of the city. To the fortress is less than 100 m. The night in a room for two will go about 13,000 rubles*.
- Boutique Hotel Casa Granados (Assessment 9.3)-Boutique hotel 250 m from the beach and the main fortress. The price per night in a double room is from 29,000 rubles*.
How to spend leisure time
By Russian standards, Toss-de-Mar-the village: in 2023 the city has about 6,000 inhabitants. However, even a sophisticated traveler will find what to do here: Toss boasts an ancient story, amazing landscapes and rich cultural heritage. But about everything in order.
Beaches
The shores of the Tossa de Mar were washing the warm waters of the Balearian Sea, which is distinguished by a colorful underwater world. It is not surprising that swimming with masks is so popular here. You can do diving, ride on wakeboards and water skiing, and also go to the rocky grottoes.
There are three city beaches in the Toss. The main, Grand Playa, is located on the left side of the fortress, it is most popular among vacationers and residents of the city. From here you can quickly get to the central streets with restaurants and shops, and it is here that local vessels are moored here (excursion and plying as public transport between Tossa and neighboring resorts).
The most compact beach, Cala Es Codolar, is located to the right of the fortress, in a small bay surrounded by cliffs covered with pine thickets.
The most suitable for snorkeling is the rocky beach of Mar Menuda. The diving school is also based, and the relief of the coast forms natural baths.
For a secluded vacation, go to Cala di Giverla (half an hour on the Fondo Cristal river tram from the pier on the main beach). A turquoise lagoon with purest waters, surrounded by pine forests, is a favorite place for owners of yachts and boats.
Attractions
Vila Veli, or the old city. The citadel, which is considered the most beautiful on the Catalan coast, was built in the XII century and perfectly preserved. At first glance, it seems very small, but wandering along a serpentine running along the fortified city walls, you can endlessly long, diving into new and new spans and getting lost on narrow streets, which serve as a shelter for dozens of restaurants. In the morning, you can meet runners here. The place really seems ideal for runs: the air is saturated with the aroma of pines, and a cooling breeze is blowing from the sea.
At the top of the Vila Veli is located Tosy-de-Mar lighthouse (Camino de la Luz)Where from 11 to 18 hours you can see the exhibition telling the history of the beacons of the Mediterranean. From the observation deck, a dizzying view of the bays with emerald water, dotted with snow -white yachts, opens from the observation deck.
In the walls of the fortress, in the house of the governor (Casa de Governador, built in the XIV century) is also located Municipal Museum of Tosy-de-Mar. For a symbolic fee of 3 euros, you can admire a wonderful collection of paintings by Catalan artists, Roman mosaics of the 5th century, as well as objects with archaeological excavations of the city. A special place is occupied by a separate hall, where several paintings by the famous artist Mark Shagal are presented. Tosse-de-Mar, the outstanding painter left as a gift to his “heavenly violinist”, whom he wrote while he lived in this Catalan town. In the 20th century, Tossu began to be called the “Babylonian crowding of all arts”, because many artists fled to his embrace for inspiration (museum address: Avenue Pelegri, 8).
In the Middle Ages, Tossa de Mar was famous for the production of traffic jams, and in our time it is a beach resort. The popularization of Tossa contributed to the filming of the film “Pandora and Flying Dutchman” with the Hollywood star Ava Gardner starring. She was fascinated by Spain and after filming she lived here for some time. This glorious page of the city is reminiscent of the statue of the actress, established here in the late 90s and rising above the azure sea.
A stone's throw from the monument to Ava Gardner, on the top of a 50-meter cliff, are located The ruins of the Gothic Church. The remains of the walls and roofs are enough to imagine how this sample of architecture once looked. And from here is an exciting view of the city and the sea.
Attention is also worthy Roman villas Els Ametlers High on the hills surrounding the city. Here you can consider several floor mosaics and sculptures, as well as some household items. This is a real museum of antiquity, which now represents the zone of archaeological excavations.
As for the active places of the cult, you can look into The parish church of San Vicente or St. Vickenty. It was built in the second half of the XVII century, but its interiors were badly damaged in the civil war in the thirties of the last century.
Evening Toss de Mar is calm. This is not a party place, unlike, for example, from the neighboring Lloret de Mara. However, in the Toss you can find several dance bars.
Where and what to eat
It is difficult to imagine Spanish cuisine without Paelia, but in Tosse-de-Mar you can try not only the classic version of this dish (based on rice), but also its Catalan analogue Fideua: in it, the rice is replaced by the vermichel, which is prepared in the fish broth. The main ingredients are shrimp and other seafood (squid, karakatitsa).
Traditional Catalan cuisine is famous for the abundance of fish dishes. For example, you can’t pass by Suquet de Peix, a broth of several types of fish with the addition of potatoes and sauce from saffron, as well as Sarsuela – freshly smoked fish, frying in olive oil, and then stewed in tomato sauce. Sarsuel is served with the gifts of the sea and seasoned with garlic with onions, paprika and saffron. Sarsuel is called Paeeli without rice.
Behind the appetite, be sure to look into the bar, where the famous Spanish tapas with different fillings are served, for example, with squid or cod.
Even in Tosse de-Mar, you can buy traditional Spanish products: Hamon, olives and olive oil, wine and cheese.
A few addresses note
As in all of Europe, many restaurants and cafes TOSS work according to a certain graphics. As a rule, for lunch, visitors are waiting in the range from 12:30 to 15:30, and for dinner – after 19:30. In the rest of the hours, while the so -called siesta goes, the establishments are closed. If you were hungry and did not have time to eat in time, you can buy food in supermarkets.
- Next to the fortress is the restaurant of the Mediterranean cuisine of Su Muralla. The average check with wine is 30–40 euros per person.
- Tapasa can be tried at the Tapas Portal restaurant, the average check per one is 20-30 euros.
- For Catalan cuisine, go to the Castell Vell restaurant, located on the territory of the Vila Vella fortress.
- You can try unusual cocktails at El Trinket Bar.
- Dancing to live music is waiting for visitors to the Sala de Festes Tahiti bar.
*Prices are relevant at the time of publication.
