The best things to see and do in Castell de Aro (Costa Brava)

If you live in BarcelonaI can tell you little about what it currently represents. Aro Beach.

It is one of the towns with the greatest atmosphere in the Costa Brava, well being one hour from Barcelona, is an eminently holiday town that has also become a second home destination for many Barcelona residents.

With 10.000 residents registered in Aro Beach, during the weekends it reaches a population of 60.000 people, which doubles in summer.

There are the attractions that characterize a Mediterranean holiday enclave, with a beach and a great atmosphere of shops, bars and restaurants.

Aro Beach on Costa Brava

The tourism development of Aro Beach It began in the middle of the last 20th century, and today it is also a very attractive destination for international tourists.

In fact, in the summer season 50 percent of its visitors are foreigners, specifically French, Dutch and Belgians, who largely arrive attracted by its outstanding camping facilities.

But if not you still don't know Aro Beach, as was my case until my recent trip to Bajo Ampurdán on the Costa Brava, you should know that the municipality, as such, has three very different faces.

As is the case in many locations in the Mediterranean coast, the historic center is located a few kilometers inland, and its main economic activity was agriculture.

Next to the beaches there used to be a small fishing port, which was a minor activity.

In the case of Aro Beach, in addition to the great resort town, just four kilometers inland is Castle of Aro, with a completely different scene, almost a jump to the medieval times.

The third area of ​​the municipality is S´Agaró, luxurious coastal residential area which with a forest landscape, small coves and cliffs, extends between the beaches of San Pol and Sa Conca, and which you can tour through the very beautiful S'Agaró coastal path.

What to see and do when visiting Castell de Aro

Specifically, now I am going to talk to you about Castle of Aro, whose origins date back to 1401, the year in which the existence of the small Benedormiens Castle, whose objective was to protect the entire Aro Valley.

Around it, over time, a small medieval town was born that was the head of the municipality until 1962.

In that year it was decided to move the town hall headquarters to Aro Beach, and also the municipality began to be called this way, compared to its historical name, which until then was Hoop Lanterns.

In the last decades Castle of Aro It has been restored until 1995 when it was declared Cultural Asset of National Interest awarded by the Generalitat.

Now when you get to Castle of Aro You find a small city in which barely 2.500 inhabitants reside.

You will see that a large part of its houses are restored and show their historic exposed stone facades, as well as windows, doors and other corners where you can see reminiscences of medieval times.

The aforementioned Benedormiens Castle, which was the headquarters of the town hall, It was restored in 1970 and is now used as showroom.

In front of the castle there is a church whose origins date back to a Romanesque chapel from the year 1078, which was later expanded with the construction of a Gothic-style building, with a single nave, which is what you can see today.

Later, a baroque portico was built.

Doll Museum in Castell de Aro

Since 1997 in Castle of Aro there is a curious Doll Museum, with more than 800 pieces on display and two different collections, one of dolls from around the world, and another of antique dolls.

Living Nativity Scene of Castell de Aro

Finally, if you approach Castle of Aro At Christmas time, you can see the Oldest Living Nativity Scene in Catalonia.

This popular nativity scene dates back to 1959, and each year around 400 people participate and create up to 40 different scenes, all with real objects, which extend from the town to an adjacent field area.

El Living Nativity Scene of Castell de Aro It is performed at 7 pm on the most significant dates of Christmas, and to see it you must pay an entrance fee of 5 euros (3 euros for children).

Photos of Castell Playa de Aro

Here you have more photos of Castell d'Aro, in the Bajo Ampurdán of the Costa Brava.

Map; how to get to Castell-Platja d´Aro

Castle of Aro It is located 15 minutes inland from Playa de Aro and 40 minutes by car from the city of Girona.