Murallas de la Vila Vella

Spain, Spain

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Murallas de la Vila Vella refers to the well-preserved medieval walls enclosing the Vila Vella, or old town, of Tossa de Mar on Catalonia's Costa Brava, Spain, constructed primarily in the early 13th century to defend against pirate attacks.

This unique fortified coastal settlement features nearly intact perimeter walls with crenellations, four square towers, three cylindrical towers with overhanging machicolations, and notable structures like the Torre d'en Joanàs overlooking the bay, Torre de les Hores near the main entrance, and Torre d'es Codolar by the beach.

Enclosing Gothic landmarks such as the 15th-century church of Sant Vicenç and housing year-round residents, the site stands as Catalonia's sole surviving example of a medieval walled coastal village, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931.