The walled enclosure of Vila Vella in Tossa de Mar is one of the best-preserved medieval complexes on the Catalan coast. Situated on a promontory overlooking the sea, the enclosure was conceived as a defensive space and a refuge for the population against land and sea attacks.
The complex preserves the complete layout of the wall with seven cylindrical towers and several sections of the wall walk. Particularly notable are the tower of en Joanàs, the tower of the Hores, and the tower of the Codolar, which structure the fortified perimeter. The walls are built with local granite stone and lime mortar, and include arrow slits and battlements that reinforce their defensive character.
The origins of the complex date back to the 12th century, when the abbot of Ripoll promoted the creation of the castle and the town charter of 1187. From that moment on, Vila Vella developed as an inhabited nucleus within the enclosure, remaining active until the modern era and preserving today one of the most emblematic medieval landscapes of the Costa Brava.
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Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan - Funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU
AODL in the field of Heritage. Action subsidised by the Public Employment Service of Catalonia within the Local Development Support Programmes.
