Sant Martí de Calonge

Sant Martí de Calonge is the parish church standing at the heart of Calonge i Sant Antoni, a town in the Baix Empordà area a short drive inland from the Costa Brava coast. The building overlooks the main square, Plaça Major, and ranks among the largest church structures in the whole diocese of Girona.

How old is this church?

Religious life at this exact spot goes back over a thousand years. The earliest written trace of a church dedicated to Saint Martin dates to 944, when Sunyer and Riquilda, counts of Barcelona and Girona, granted nearby land to it. A second key record comes from 1019, when the bishop of Girona ceded his rights over Calonge to the cathedral chapter, and the church appears in that document under its Latin name, Sancti Martini de Colonico.

The building visitors see today, however, is not that early medieval church. The current structure was raised between 1763 and 1772 on top of an earlier Romanesque church, and several pieces of that older building were kept and folded into the much larger 18th-century project.

What can you see inside and outside?

The church has a single, unusually wide nave covered by a barrel vault with lunettes. Side chapels line both walls and connect with one another, while the sanctuary ends in a polygonal apse — a layout typical of the large rural churches built across Catalonia during the 18th century.

The façade is marked by a rectangular portal flanked by columns, carrying a relief that shows Saint Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar — one of the most recognisable images tied to this saint and found on other churches dedicated to him as well. A square bell tower rises above the building and can be spotted from several points around town.

How do you get there?

The church sits right in the centre of Calonge, on Plaça Major, making it a natural landmark for anyone exploring the town on foot. Calonge is only a few kilometres from the coastal resort of Sant Antoni de Calonge and close to the main roads linking the Baix Empordà with the rest of the Costa Brava, so it is easy to reach by car from nearby beach towns.

When is the best time to visit?

The town and church can be visited year-round, but the experience is more relaxed outside the peak summer months — spring and autumn bring lighter crowds on the coast and more comfortable temperatures for walking around. In summer, an early visit is a good idea, before the midday heat sets in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sant Martí de Calonge? It is the parish church of Calonge i Sant Antoni, dedicated to Saint Martin and counted among the largest churches in the Girona diocese.

When was the current building constructed? The present church was built between 1763 and 1772 on the site of an earlier Romanesque church, some elements of which were preserved in the new construction.

How far back does the history of this site go? The first documented reference dates to 944, and another significant record comes from 1019, when the bishop of Girona transferred his rights over Calonge to the cathedral chapter.

What is worth noticing on the façade? A rectangular portal with side columns and a relief depicting Saint Martin giving part of his cloak to a beggar, topped by a square bell tower.