Sant Martí d'Empúries | |
Settlement Type: | Municipality |
Pushpin Map: | Spain Catalonia |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Catalonia |
Coordinates: | 42.1399°N 3.1179°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Spain |
Subdivision Type1: | Community |
Subdivision Type2: | Province |
Subdivision Name2: | Girona |
Subdivision Type3: | Comarca |
Subdivision Name3: | Alt Empordà |
Established Title: | neighbourhood of L'Escala |
Population Total: | 61 |
Population As Of: | 2009 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone1: | CET |
Utc Offset1: | +1 |
Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
Postal Code: | 17130 |
Sant Martí d'Empúries is an entity of the town of L'Escala. It is located next to the ruins of Empúries or Empòrion. Ancient Greeks established the settlement in the 6th century BC.[1] It was the county seat until 1079 Empúries moved to Castelló d'Empúries place less exposed to attack.
Sant Martí d'Empúries is a staging point on the GR 92 long distance footpath, which roughly follows the length of the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Stage 5, to the north, takes a route behind the coast to the El Cortalet pond in the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, a distance of . Stage 6, to the south, follows the coast to l'Escala and then takes an inland route across the Montgri Massif to reach the next staging point of Torroella de Montgrí, a distance of .[2] [3]
It was an inhabited place since the arrival of Greeks from Massalia, actual Marseille (France) in the 6th century BC. Greeks established a settlement there called it, Kypsela (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Κύψελα). At the ancient times there is a possibility that there was a temple of Artemis on the island.[1]
It was Christianized by Saint Feliu, an African martyr who died in 304 in Girona. He was bishop between 516 and 693. Charlemagne mentions Ermenguer as first Count of Empúries in 812.