Muralles de Tossa de Mar, Medieval fortress in Tossa de Mar, Spain.
The Muralles de Tossa de Mar form a medieval fortification enclosing the old Vila Vella district, standing on a rocky promontory above the sea. Four large towers and three cylindrical towers with battlements create a complete defensive circuit that follows the coastline and frames views over the Mediterranean.
The walls were built during the 13th century to protect the coastal settlement from pirate attacks and included a voussoired entrance gate. By the 15th century, around eighty houses crowded against the inner side of the fortress walls, where families sought refuge.
The name Tossa likely derives from a Roman watchtower, whose defensive function continued through the medieval fortification. Inside the walls, narrow lanes preserve the feeling of a protected community where fishermen and craftspeople once lived sheltered from the open sea.
Visitors can walk along accessible sections of the ramparts and pathways, where information panels explain the different parts of the fortification system. The climb works best in early morning or late afternoon, when light is softer and fewer people are around.
This structure is the only surviving fortified medieval town on the Catalan coast and was declared a historic-artistic monument in 1931. The contrast between the grey stone walls and the turquoise water below made it a popular subject for modern painters.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
