The contrasts between each of these component towns could hardly  be starker. Platja d'Aro has become one of the most traditional seaside resorts, with a wide range of entertainment facilities to lure in foreigners, while Castell d'Aro would seem to the exact opposite, an oasis of peace and quiet.

The town has managed to hang onto its traditional spirit; everybody seems to know each other and the word “tourism” hardly seems to have been heard of. Castell d'Aro has an important architectural heritage, earning it the distinction of Cultural Asset of National Interest in 1996. The medieval castle of Benedormiens is recorded in eleventh century documents explaining how its owners agreed to hand it over to the Monasterio de Sant Feliu de Guíxols,  the monastery taking on in return the commitment to protect the whole Aro valley from any Muslim attack. Shortly afterwards the castle changed its name to Castri de Aredo, taking the name of the town called Vall d'Aro, since when it has evolved to the current name of Castell d'Aro. The castle’s importance can be gauged from the fact that the whole town has been built up around it.

In August a medieval fair is held when streets and merchants are decked up in medieval attire. Demonstrations are given of crafts while all types of natural food can be tasted (and bought in the various stalls). The whole scene is enlivened by musical attractions and jugglers.

The best time to visit Platja d'Aro is outside the holiday season (autumn is good) to be able to enjoy all its attractions without the madding crowds. One of the main attractions is Cavall Bernat, a granite monolith looming over the town’s best beach, showing obvious signs of wind and sea erosion. Cavall Bernat is the town’s main symbol although many may wonder, confused by the name in Catalan, what this figure really has to do with a horse. And the fact is very little, for it turns out that its original name was not “Cavall” (horse) but “carall” (phallus).

 From here we can head for Ronda to visit the lovely beaches of this area: Cala Artigues and other smaller beaches such as Sa Cova, Carvasses, Platja del Pi or Platja d'en Ros.

To find out at first hand the origins of this town we need to make for Fanals i Muntanya, a group of masías (Catalan farmsteads) huddling round the eighteenth-century Iglesia de Santa Maria de Fanals, a church with an unfinished belfry.

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