Influencer Melyssa Pinto finds her emotional bunker in Santa Cristina d'Aro (Baix Empordà), a village among mountains and secret coves where she recharges away from the spotlight.
Santa Cristina d'Aro, a municipality in Baix Empordà, is the place Melyssa Pinto returns to whenever she needs to disconnect. The influencer, known for her nomadic lifestyle between Madrid and the Costa Brava, maintains a deep connection with this Girona corner where she grew up. It is not a crowded postcard destination; it is a haven of discretion and nature that Melyssa herself describes as her sanctuary.
The village is situated between the Gavarres mountains and the Ardenya massif, less than ten minutes by car from crystal-clear coves. This duality between mountain and sea is what makes Santa Cristina unique. Here, Melyssa can stroll along the Carrilet, an old railway converted into a green route that traverses the valley without the noise of engines. It is her sacred ritual, her way of reconnecting with nature.
Childhood Corners: Cova d'en Daina and Romanyà de la Selva
To understand Melyssa's relationship with her land, one must visit Romanyà de la Selva, a nucleus belonging to the municipality that seems to be from another era. There lived the writer Mercè Rodoreda in her final years, seeking the same peace that the influencer now seeks. Nearby stands the Dolmen of Cova d'en Daina, one of the most important megalithic monuments in Catalonia. Melyssa has grown up surrounded by this ancestral energy, a landscape of rocks and legends that explains her deep spirituality.
The key to Santa Cristina is its duality: it has the strength of the Girona mountains and the breeze of the best coves in Europe just ten minutes away.
Walking through this environment is to understand the organic aesthetic that Melyssa projects on her social media. There are no filters that surpass the golden light that falls on the cork oaks at sunset. It is the perfect setting for a life that, although today is public, began in the utmost rural tranquility.
'Mar i muntanya' Cuisine: Flavours She Misses in Madrid
If there is one thing Melyssa misses in the capital, it is her home-cooked meals. The cuisine of Santa Cristina d'Aro is an ode to local produce. Here, the concept of 'mar i muntanya' prevails, dishes that combine the best from the fish market with the treasures of the land. Wild boar stews with Gavarres mushrooms or a casserole rice with coastal prawns are the reasons the influencer always has a reason to return. (Note: the mushroom season in autumn is the locals' best-kept secret).
Melyssa frequents family-run restaurants where the owners call her by name and where she can enjoy anchovies from L'Escala or some fesolets without anyone asking for a selfie. It is that normalcy that recharges her batteries.
Secret Coves: The Blue Refuge of the 'It-Girl'
Although the village centre is inland, Santa Cristina has a 'secret exit' to the sea. We are talking about spots like Cala Canyet or Platja del Senyor Ramon. These are coves that are hard to access, protected by vertical cliffs that seem like natural walls against mass tourism. It is in these crystal-clear waters where Melyssa feels free. Far from the much busier beaches of Platja d'Aro, these coves are her summer sanctuary. A place where the blue of the sky merges with the turquoise of the water and the only sound is that of the cicadas.
This setting has been the backdrop for many of her most intimate moments, including her recent getaways with Mario Casas. Santa Cristina offers that bunker of anonymity that a couple of their calibre needs to breathe.
A Practical Plan for Visitors
For those wanting to experience Melyssa's Santa Cristina, the best time is autumn, when the forests turn ochre and mushrooms take centre stage. You can cycle or walk along the Carrilet, and then get lost in the coves along the coast. The influencer recommends reserving a table in advance at local restaurants, as word of mouth fills them up quickly. And, of course, keep the secret.
