The legend of the snake of Vall d'Aro with @unitatdellegenda

@unitatdellegenda invites us to discover the legend of the snake of Vall d'Aro.

Nestled between the Gavarres mountains and the waters of the Mediterranean lies the Vall d'Aro, a land of dense forests, ancient paths, and solitary farmhouses. Legend has it that, many years ago, when the nights were darker and stories were passed from mouth to mouth around the fire, an extraordinary creature lived near the village of Fenals.

It was a gigantic serpent, larger than any known animal. It possessed immense strength and moved with such speed that not even the swiftest horse could feel safe in its presence. Some people claimed that a long mane grew from its head, within which it hid its most precious treasure: a gemstone that shone in the darkness.

 

 

 

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The luminous stone

That jewel was no ordinary stone. Its light was so intense that, on moonless nights, it illuminated the mountain paths like a tiny star.

It was said that the stone gave the snake strength and longevity, and that its life was bound to it. Rumors also circulated that anyone who managed to possess it would gain immense wealth and never know poverty again.

The snake was aware of the value of its treasure and almost never parted with it. It only did so when it came down from Fenals to the sea to bathe. Before entering the water, it hid the stone in the sand, because it feared the waves would carry it out to sea.

For a long time, no one knew that secret. Until a young heir of the Valley of Aro began to observe the creature's movements.

The heir's plan

The heir lived in a nearby farmhouse and had long heard tales of the serpent and its magic stone. Driven by ambition—or, according to other versions, by the desire to offer an incomparable jewel to his beloved— he decided to seize it.

He knew that confronting the beast directly meant certain death. That's why he prepared a strong and swift mare, capable of running along the narrow paths of the valley without missing a beat.

For days he followed the snake from a distance. He discovered the path it took, the exact place where it hid the stone, and how much time it spent in the water.

Finally, one early morning, he decided to act.

The treasure theft

When the snake reached the beach, it left the stone in the sand and slithered into the sea. The heir, hidden behind some bushes, waited until the creature was far enough away.

Then he ran to the beach, picked up the jewel, and mounted the mare.

As soon as he held the stone in his hands, a powerful white light illuminated his face. For a moment he was mesmerized, but a terrible roar from the sea snapped him back to reality.

The snake had discovered the theft.

The heir dug his heels into the mare's flanks and galloped away. The creature burst from the water in a rage and gave chase.

The chase through the Aro Valley

The mare ran as fast as she could along the valley paths. She crossed fields, streams, and forests while the stone gleamed inside the heir's satchel.

The snake followed them at an extraordinary speed. Its gigantic body raised clouds of dust, and its tail struck the trees with such force that it broke their branches.

At every turn, it seemed the creature was about to catch them. The heir felt its breath and the thud of its body against the ground, but the mare didn't slow down.

After a desperate race, the young man managed to reach Aro Castle. The gates closed behind him, and the heir believed the walls would protect him.

He was wrong.

The Revenge of the Serpent

The serpent reached the castle and demanded, with roars that shook the entire valley, that the stone be returned. But the heir, blinded by the jewel's brilliance and the riches it promised, refused to hand it over.

Furious, the creature coiled its body around the walls and began to strike them with its tail. Each blow made the towers tremble. Stones were dislodged, the walls cracked, and the castle's inhabitants ran for cover.

The snake continued attacking until part of the fortress gave way with a deafening noise.

Some say the castle was completely destroyed and that the ruins buried the heir along with the stone. Others claim the young man escaped through a secret passage and kept the jewel, which allowed him to amass a vast fortune.

The disappearance of the creature

Nobody knows for sure how that story ended.

Some say that, having lost the stone that gave it strength and life, the snake slowly made its way back to the beach and plunged into the Mediterranean. The waters swallowed it, and it was never seen again.

Others say she disappeared into the forests of Les Gavarres, where she remains hidden to this day. They claim she patiently awaits the moment to reclaim her treasure and punish the descendants of whoever stole it.

There is also a version that says the heir gave the stone to his beloved. They lived surrounded by riches, but they never slept peacefully again. Every night, when the wind blew through the trees, they thought they heard the serpent's body slithering along the valley paths.

A legend that still endures

The story of the snake has changed over generations. In some versions, the stone brings good fortune; in others, it brings destruction and death. But they all share the same warning: wealth obtained through deceit always comes at a price.

The Fenals serpent continues to be part of the collective imagination of Castell d'Aro and Platja d'Aro. Perhaps it disappeared forever into the sea. Perhaps it rests beneath the ruins of a castle. Or perhaps it still lives hidden in some corner of Les Gavarres.

And they say that, on the darkest nights, a mysterious light can be seen moving among the trees. Some believe it is the precious stone. Others claim it is the eyes of the serpent, still searching for the treasure that was once stolen from it.

Published by Youssef Haouriqui on 23 of september of 2026