Museo Municipal de Tossa de Mar

Museo Municipal de Tossa de Mar is the town museum of Tossa de Mar, and it does something unusual for a small Catalan coastal town: it houses Roman archaeology and early-twentieth-century modern art under the same roof.

Where is the museum and why is it there?

The museum occupies the Palau del Batlle de Sac, the former residence of the town's governor, set in the upper part of the Vila Vella — Tossa's walled old town. The building itself is considered one of the most distinguished in Tossa, and its heavy stone architecture is part of the experience before you even reach the first display case. Getting there means walking through the narrow lanes of the old town, inside the medieval walls.

Who founded the museum, and when?

The museum opened its doors on 1 September 1935, established by a group of intellectuals then living in Tossa: archaeologist Alberto del Castillo, sculptor Enric Casanovas, and painters Rafael Benet, Pere Créixams and George Kars. That opening made it the first contemporary art gallery in Spain — a striking milestone for such a small seaside town.

Why did artists flock to Tossa in the 1930s?

In the first half of the 1930s, Tossa de Mar turned into an unlikely hub of the avant-garde. Local painters such as Rafael Benet and Pere Créixams were joined by international names — Marc Chagall, André Masson and George Kars among them. Benet himself coined the phrase that stuck: he called Tossa the "Babel of the Arts," a nod to the mix of languages and painting traditions that coexisted in the town at the time.

What will you actually see inside?

The collection splits into two clear strands. The first is archaeological: finds from the Roman villa of Els Ametllers, unearthed within the town, including mosaic fragments, ceramics and everyday objects that document Roman settlement along this stretch of coast. The second strand is the art collection built around the painters and sculptors who lived or worked in Tossa during the 1930s. The single most recognizable piece is Marc Chagall's "Blue Paradise" (Paradís Blau), painted as a tribute to the town that hosted him.

Is it worth setting aside real time for a visit?

The museum is compact, so a full visit typically takes an hour, two at most — enough to pair comfortably with a walk along the Vila Vella walls and a stop at the nearby lighthouse. It rewards both visitors drawn to ancient history and those more interested in early modern painting, since both threads are presented in a condensed, accessible way rather than spread across sprawling galleries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the museum located? In the upper part of Tossa de Mar's walled old town (Vila Vella), inside the Palau del Batlle de Sac, the former governor's residence.

When was the museum founded, and by whom? It opened on 1 September 1935, founded by archaeologist Alberto del Castillo, sculptor Enric Casanovas, and painters Rafael Benet, Pere Créixams and George Kars.

What are the key exhibits? Roman archaeological finds from the Els Ametllers villa, and paintings by artists connected to Tossa in the 1930s, including Marc Chagall's "Blue Paradise."

Why was Tossa called the "Babel of the Arts"? Because in the 1930s it hosted Catalan and international artists side by side — including Chagall, Masson and Kars — working together despite different languages and painting traditions.