The Villa Romana dels Ametllers (built between the 1st and 6th centuries B.C.) in the centre of Tossa de Mar is the largest of all the roman excavations in the area. This rural villa, discovered in 1914 by Dr. Ignasi Melé, is one of the most significant rural villas of the former province of Tarraconensis which covered half of the Spanish town area as we know it today.
The villa's inhabitants were dedicated to agriculture and particularly to the production and export of wine. The buildings were perfectly arranged on the hill as it slopes to the sea. The agricultural buildings were on the lower part and it is here where the wine was made and stored along with oil, cured fish, grain and other products. The upper building complex was set aside for comfortable Roman living with a heating system, a swimming pool, a well, numerous mosaics (2nd and 3rd century A.D.) and a wintertime dining room.
Only the floor plan remains recognizable, but if you are really interested you can admire the many excavated findings from this site in the Museo Municipal museum. The villa was vacated between the 7th and 8th centuries and partly used as a necropolis.

Access:

Distance from centre of Tossa de Mar: approx. 300 m from the centre, located between the street's Avinguda del Pelegrí and Carrer la Guàrdia.

On foot: the excavation site is right beside the City Walls opposite the Tourist Information Office. This visit fits in well with visits to Carrer la Guàrdia street, the site of Mas Rabassa, the typical Catalan farmhouse and the Torre Can Magí watchtower, a short distance away.
A large sign, partly hidden by vegetation situated on a house wall in the Carrer la Guardia street, points to the entrance to the excavation site.

Other less significant Roman excavations are the Villa Romana de Ses Alzines, 1 km from Tossa, and between Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar at a distance of 5 km, the Villa Romana de Mar Carbotí.