MARITIME CUISINE

In this fishing town, protected in ancient times by its walls, gastronomy has become the common thread connecting the fishing tradition and today’s maritime culture.

– Tossa Lighthouse (41.715594, 2.934421)
Essential infrastructure for sailing and fishing – Tossa de Mar
Passeig de Vila Vella – town centre

Built in 1917 in the highest part of the Tossa headland, the 15-metre-tall Tossa de Mar lighthouse, still operational, is the youngest lighthouse on the Costa Brava. It was built in order to meet the need to guide fishing and transportation vessels between Palamós and Calella, on the Maresme Coast.
At night, its white light, with groups of three flashes followed by a single flash, still guides fishing boats today. During the day, the lighthouse is open to visitors and offers an obstacle-free view of the sea stretching out from the Tossa headland.
The lighthouse is now home to the “Tossa Lighthouse. A century of maritime signals on the Costa Brava” interpretation centre, which explains the history and technology of the lighthouse, helping visitors to understand how it has evolved in parallel with the transformation of its setting.

– Es Racó (41.717884, 2.933383)
Mooring zone for fishing boats on the beach – Tossa de Mar
Beach area between the walkway of the Riera de Tossa (dry riverbed) and the old walls

Es Racó is a coarse sand section of beach located at the southern edge of Tossa de Mar’s Platja Gran (Main Beach), right next to the town’s old walled enclosure, the Vila Vella (Old Town). Thanks to its location, sheltered from the wind, Es Racó is the best place to moor boats out of the water, and this is where the town’s small gear fishing boats are kept.

– Ses Peixateries (41.717747, 2.932236)
Place where fish was sold until the mid-1990s – Tossa de Mar
C/ Ses Peixateries – town centre

This part of the Tossa’s Vila Nova (New Town – outside the old town walls) has always been known as “Ses Peixateries” (“The Fish Stalls”), since this is the place where fish was auctioned and sold until 1994. This space, covered by a porch, conserves the old counter from which fish was sold, along with the sculpture of a fishwife, by Ció Abellí, created in tribute to and in remembrance of the fishwives who worked here.

– Chapel of Mare de Déu dels Socors (41.718513, 2.931971)
Seafarers’ chapel in the town centre – Tossa de Mar
C/ de la Mare de Déu dels Socors – town centre

It is said that the construction of this 16th-century single-nave chapel was commissioned by a sailor, Antoni Caixa, as a token of his gratitude to Our Lady of Perpetual Help after he was saved from a shipwreck. Located on the Camí Ral (Royal Way) connecting Girona to Lloret de Mar (the present-day Carrer dels Socors), it became a place of worship for seafarers of all kinds.
Its present-day appearance, with a gable roof and double-arched bell gable, dates from the 18th century, when this detached chapel was remodelled. It remains a place of worship open to visitors.

– Remendadora (Fishing Net Mender) (41.720645, 2.932795)
Sculpture dedicated to the women who repaired fishing nets – Tossa de Mar
Jardins de l’av. de Palma – town centre

This bronze sculpture was created by the artist Josep Puig in tribute to the town’s remendadores (fish net menders). The mothers, wives or daughters of fishermen traditionally carried out the work of mending fishing nets. Their work began on the beach once the boats reached shore. Once the fish was unloaded, the nets were stretched out in the sun to dry. Fish net mending is one of the most ancient maritime trades plied by women.