Discover Santa Cristina De Aro

Santa Cristina De Aro appeals to travelers with a wide range of interests: geological formations, coves, archaeological remains and cultural routes are among the municipality’s attractions. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, you can start by considering whether landscapes, history or active pursuits should shape your stay. Local examples offer concrete ideas, from a pre-Romanesque church to sailing and diving courses.

A landscape of granite, river and coast

The Massís de les Cadiretes, also known as l’Ardenya, is listed in Catalonia as an area of geological interest. It features granite formations such as domes and rock pinnacles. The Ridaura offers a different landscape: it flows through a plain shaped by agriculture and forestry and forms an important biological corridor. The municipality’s coastline includes Cala Canyet, Cala del Senyor Ramon and Vallpresona. The small coves are surrounded by cliffs, and their species-rich seabeds feature Posidonia seagrass meadows. These natural areas are clearly distinct: granite formations, a river corridor and coastal seabeds each offer a different focus for planning your trip.

Archaeological traces and cultural history

The Església de Sant Martí de Romanyà is a pre-Romanesque church dating from the second half of the 10th century or the beginning of the 11th century. The Iberian settlement of Plana Basarda represents a much earlier period; it was inhabited between the 4th and 1st centuries BC. It stood on a plateau 300 meters high and had a defensive wall, a water cistern and around thirty grain silos. These features identify it as a settlement with fortifications, water storage and grain storage. The timeline therefore spans the Iberian settlement of the centuries before the Common Era and a church built roughly a millennium later.

The collection of dioramas at Solius also has its own cultural history: it was started in 1970 and has artistic, popular and religious value. Literature is the focus of the Rodoreda–Romanyà walking tour. It explores places in Romanyà de la Selva through the books and readings of Mercè Rodoreda. Together, archaeological sites, a church, a diorama collection and a literary walking tour offer different ways to discover the municipality’s history and culture.

Routes and activities

Guided hiking, cycling and cultural heritage routes are organized year-round in Santa Cristina d’Aro with experienced guides. Trails and tracks lead to Castell de Solius, with gentle ascents and descents; one section of the climb is more challenging. When planning your visit, the distinction between the gentle changes in elevation and this more difficult section of the climb is more informative than a blanket assessment of the entire route.

A section of the former railway line runs from Santa Cristina d’Aro through Castell d’Aro and Platja d’Aro to Sant Feliu de Guíxols and can be explored on foot or by bike. Unlike the route to Castell de Solius, the key details here are the sequence of places and the option to follow the former railway line on foot or by bike. If you’re more interested in water sports, the sailing club at Cala Canyet offers sailing and diving courses, among other activities. Dolmen de la Cova d’en Daina is easily accessible to visitors.

Plan your trip

Santa Cristina d’Aro can be reached by car, bus, or a combination of train and bus. If you’re traveling by public transport, it’s worth checking connections for your travel dates. This will help you coordinate your journey with the places or guided activities that interest you.

Discover more destinations: Romanya De La Selva, Cistella, Biure, Sant Ferriol, Regencós, Vilaür, Verges, Llers.

Go to the main travel overview: Girona.