Tossa de Mar
Additional Websites and Cataluña Region Information Tossa de Mar – The prosperous Roman village of Turissa existed on the Cape of Tossa (peninsula of the Vila Vella) between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. An oil mill, warehouses of a Roman villa, and several rooms with magnificent mosaic pavements in which appear the names of Salvo Vitale and Turissa were discovered here in the subsoil of present day Tossa de Mar. In the excavations of 1934, a fine swimming pool, heating installations using hot air, and Roman coins from the first four centuries AD were discovered. Later on, the walled silhouette of the medieval town of Tursia arose on this site, which is preserved to this day. The walls and nine defense towers were built between the 12th and 14th centuries. The Keep (Es Codolar), situated on top of the cliff, overlooks the cove of the original port. The tower of En Joanas, situated on the summit of the Cape of Tossa, is in a perfect state of preservation. The castle tower was demolished in 1916, and the present lighthouse was built in it’s place. Magnificent views of the sea can be seen from this point. A beautiful bronze statue by the sculptress Ció Abellí of a famous American actress named Ava Gardner stands on a high balcony near the castle overlooking the bay, forever watching and longing for the sight of sails bringing her true love home to stay. Contemporary folklore has it that Ava Gardner met Mario Cabre, a famous Spanish matador here in Tossa de Mar. A torrid love affair ensued, and it was “Adios and hasta luego, Frank Sinatra”. The Vila Vella also contains the old church, the governor’s palace (14th century Gothic), and the Museu Municipal, founded by the painter Rafael Benet. The museum contains some relics from the Roman period, along with works by Tossa artists Marc Chagall and Joaquim Sunyer. Just across from the museum is the Castell Vell, owned by Rosa Monraba, the former alcadessa (mayor) of Tossa de Mar, acknowledged by locals to be the finest restaurant in Tossa de Mar. www.infotossa.com. Girona/Costa Brava – You may want to visit the Barri Vell, the Jewish quarter, and the magnificent Santa Maria Cathedral in the Roman city of Gerunda (Girona). This unique cathedral has a large Romanesque bell tower and cloister, and the widest single Gothic nave in medieval European architecture (23 meters). Just north of Girona is the picturesque village of Besalu with it’s uniquely angled photogenic bridge, the Dali museum in Figueras, the 600 BC Greek coastal settlement of Empurion, and the beautiful fishing village of Cadaques on the coast where the Pyrenees Mts. come down to the sea near the Spanish/French border. Play a round of golf at PGA Catalunya, one of two PGA courses in Europe, or at Mas Nou, a beautiful course overlooking the Mediterranean Sea just north of Tossa de Mar near Playa d’Aro. Shop for antiques, pottery, and ceramics in La Bisbal. http://www.costabrava.org. Barcelona – Officially founded as the Roman city of Barcino during the reign of Caesar Augustus, 27 BC to 14 AD. According to legend, the city was named after Hamilcar Barca, the Carthaginian father of Hannibal. This is the 153rd anniversary year of the Catalan architect, Antonin Gaudi. See his Sagrada Familia cathedral and some of the other exceptional Romanesque, Gothic, and Moderisme architectural sights while you are here in Cataluñia. If sightseeing time is limited, we recommend both of the Barcelona Bus Turistic 2 hr tours to get a comprehensive overview of the city. You may want to visit the Picasso Museum and have a café con leche at Els Quatre Gats on Calle Montsio, favorite retreat of Picasso and many famous artists and writers. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com, http://www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides/barcelona. Cataluña website: http://www.idealspain.com/Pages/Places/Catalonia.htm, www.hotelclub.com. Current weather: http://weather.yahoo.com/img/eur_spain_outlookf_en_GB_440_mdy_y.html. Taxis: Local taxis in the towns and cities of Cataluña are strictly regulated and fares are very reasonable. However, as a precaution, always get a receipt with the taxi number on it. Normally, a taxi from BCN Airport to Tossa de Mar (100 km) can run 100 euros or more, and from GRO Airport to Tossa de Mar (30 km) about 42 euros. Rev Feb 2007 |