The Dolmen de la Cova d’en Daina makes Romanya De La Selva a distinctive destination for culture lovers: it is one of Catalonia’s most complete and best-preserved megalithic monuments. Along with the pre-Romanesque church of Sant Martí de Romanyà and the marked hiking trails, it offers different ways to explore the area—through archaeological remains, architectural history, and landscape.

Dolmen and Historical Traces

The Cova d’en Daina is a funerary monument of the “Catalan gallery” or “wide corridor” type. These two terms help place the megalithic monument within archaeological typology. The wider context includes the Les Gavarres Massif, where a group of megaliths stands out for the number and close proximity of its monuments. This also allows the individual dolmen to be considered in the context of the region’s heritage.

Sant Martí de Romanyà offers a different historical perspective. The church dates from the second half of the 10th century or the beginning of the 11th century. Its cruciform floor plan has projecting arms, as well as a trapezoidal apse and vaulted roofs throughout. In 1019, Sant Martí is mentioned as belonging to the canonry of Girona. Its architectural form and early written reference offer two distinct clues to the area’s history.

Mercè Rodoreda is also closely associated with Romanyà de la Selva: she chose the area as a place to write and live during the last years of her life, and completed “Mirall trencat” here. Her grave is in the cemetery of Romanyà. On the guided literary tour “Rodoreda–Romanyà,” texts and readings from her books lead visitors to her characters and the area’s landscapes. Check dates and reservation options before booking a tour.

Other historic landmarks include the seven-meter-high Creu de Romanyà, erected in 1904 and rebuilt in 1945, and the 2.35-meter-high Menhir de la Murtra. Lluís Esteva and others raised the menhir in 1952. The different measurements and dates show that the visible remains are not limited to a single period.

Hiking Trails and Cork Oak Forest

“Els Gegants del Bosc” is a three-kilometer circular route around Romanyà de la Selva. It includes the Font del Prat landscape area, several monumental cork oaks, Sant Martí de Romanyà, and the Dolmen de la Cova d’en Daina. The route therefore takes in both natural and cultural heritage.

Other trails are also marked: the GR 92.1 Puig d’Arques–Romanyà de la Selva is designated as a hiking route; the section from Romanyà de la Selva to Solius is also designated as a hiking route. The PR-C110 runs from S’Agaró via Castell d’Aro and Santa Cristina d’Aro to Romanyà de la Selva. These details describe different routes, including one that passes through several towns. As route listings may change, check the information with the official tourism portal before setting out.

The cork oak forests of Romanyà are open, light-filled Mediterranean woodlands dominated by cork oaks and accompanied by pines. They are characterized by rich undergrowth and very high biodiversity. For the region’s natural context, it is also important to note that large parts of the Les Gavarres Massif are protected under Natura 2000 and the Catalan Plan for Areas of Natural Interest (PEIN). If you are planning activities in the region, check the current protection status with the relevant authorities.

For your trip, you can choose from a range of different themes: the Cova d’en Daina and Sant Martí offer archaeological and architectural topics, while Rodoreda adds a literary perspective to the area’s history. The “Els Gegants del Bosc” circular route connects named natural and cultural sites along its described course, while the PR-C110 passes through several towns. Which aspects you focus on depends on whether you are most interested in the monuments, the literary connections, or the marked hiking trails.

For the broader travel overview: Santa Cristina De Aro.