Emergency repairs begin on Catalan coast's only walled medieval town

Spain has started emergency repairs on the walled enclosure of Vila Vella de Tossa de Mar, the only example of a fortified medieval town that still exists on the Catalan coast.

The wall, originally built to protect the medieval city from pirates, was found to have "significant cracks" in its three fortification towers, the Torre de les Hores, Torre d’es Codolar, and Torre d’en Joanàs. An emergency structural stabilization work then began, costing nearly half a million euros.

According to the town's mayor, Martí Pujals, the "main problem" lies in the tops of the three towers, which were "on the verge of collapse." 

Pujals says these crowning sections were restored in 1931 using a mixture of lime mortar and concrete; over time, these materials proved to be "totally incompatible," leading to pieces breaking off.

To address this, the Catalan government and Spain have agreed to dismantle the crowning sections in stages, reinforce their structure, and rebuild them. The project also includes improvements to water collection and drainage systems to prevent erosion.

Before determining the specifics of the work, archaeological research was conducted to document the towers' original configuration. The reports on this work are currently in their final drafting stage. 

"We will preserve the appearance they had when they were built in the 12th or 13th century," Pujals said.

Mesh to stabilize slope

The project will also address the slope alongside the wall to reduce the risk of rockfalls. In late June, this risk forced two restaurant terraces to close, and the council installed a metal band to ensure safety.

According to the mayor, the repairs on the road leading up to the lighthouse in 1910 was "very aggressive" and left the terrain without proper stabilization. The plan now involves clearing vegetation, installing protective mesh, and replanting the area.

"It is interesting because we aren't working on the medieval structure itself, but rather on a road from 1910 and a restoration from the 1930s," Pujals said. 

The town expects the work to be completed before the end of the year. Maria Àngels Aragay, owner of the Hotel Cap d'Or, welcomed the start of the work and noted that the hotel, located right next to the walled enclosure, had warned the town of the risk years ago. 

She explained that large falling stones had punched a hole in the warehouse roof last March, thereby accelerating the repairs.

Regulating uses of Vila Vella

At the same time, the Ministry of Culture is working on a master plan that will locate both the monument's repair needs and how it will be used as a tourist attraction.

The document will need to address issues such as activity regulations, the possibility of charging an entrance fee, and whether access to the towers will be allowed. According to the mayor, the process will take about two years to "ensure scientific rigor and citizen participation."

The plan will complement measures already implemented by the council to regulate tourism in the town, such as limiting guided tour group sizes, banning the use of megaphones and loudspeakers, and charging fees for tourist buses.