| Measuring around 1½ mls long by 1 ml wide, with a fairly sedate, family-orientated ambience, Tossa de Mar can be loosely divided into the modern part of town, which sprawls inland and to the N, and the old town to the S, situated below a bay-facing 12th- and 14th-century castle. The castle has an attractive, fairytale quality and encompasses within its walls over 80 diminutive and charming stone houses set on narrow, winding paths dotted with pine trees and colourful flowers; a broad stone ramp leads up from the sea front and there are good views of the town and bay from the top. The old town has managed to absorb some intense tourist activity without losing too much of its original fishing village character, and even at the busiest times some of the small squares ? like the one in front of the sizeable church ? are quiet. Along the sea front, back from the tree-lined road, is an unbroken line of restaurants, some of them reasonably good quality, with open-air patios opposite the main beach. To reach the smaller beach, the road rises slightly to cross over the rocks in front of some distinctive apartment developments. | ||||
Beaches: The main beach is about 150 yds wide and therefore has plenty of space, except in the peak season, when it gets crowded only at the water's edge. The smaller beach is generally as full but has the advantage of an inlet the size of a small swimming pool for toddlers to swim in. Both are of coarse golden sand. A small cove, Es Codolar, is on the other side of an old wall to the S of town, and comprises a 30-yd arc of sand and shingle with rocky edges and a snack bar; sunbeds for hire. Nearby Cala Llevada is good for water sports and Mar Menuda beach for snorkelling. |
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