The Església de Santa Maria is the parish church of Cadaqués, standing on raised ground above the harbour where it can be seen from almost anywhere in the bay. It is widely regarded as the town's most important monument, and its position, looking out over the water and the rooftops of the old quarter, makes it as much a visual anchor for Cadaqués as a place of worship.
A church rebuilt after destruction
The current building was constructed between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, on the site of an earlier church that had been destroyed in 1543. Its architecture is generally described as Late Gothic, with Baroque elements added later, a combination that reflects the long span of time over which the church took its present shape. The construction itself was financed by the fishermen of the town, a detail that ties the building directly to the maritime life that has always defined Cadaqués.
The Baroque altarpiece inside
The church's best-known feature is its high altarpiece, a gilded Baroque work standing twenty-three metres tall and dedicated to Our Lady of Hope. It was designed by Jacint Moretó and carried out by the sculptors Pau Costa and Joan Torres. Locally, the altarpiece is considered unique in the world for its depth, and it forms the visual centrepiece of the church's interior. Beyond the main altarpiece, the church houses nine more altarpieces spread across its different chapels, each executed with considerable craftsmanship.
The church also holds one of the oldest organs in Catalonia, built at the end of the seventeenth century by Josep Boscà. Its age and rarity make it a notable detail for visitors interested in the building's history beyond the altarpiece alone.
An active part of Cadaqués life today
The Church of Santa Maria is not simply a historic monument to be viewed from outside. It has a big part in the town's International Music Festival, an event considered one of the most outstanding on the regional cultural calendar, which brings live performance into the same space that has held the altarpiece and organ for centuries. That combination of deep history and continued use gives the church a role in Cadaqués that goes beyond architecture.
Visiting the church
The church is located at C/ Portal de Mont, 1, 3, in the historic centre of Cadaqués, set on the high ground above the harbour that makes it visible from the water and from Platja Gran below. Its elevated position is part of what makes it a natural stopping point for anyone exploring the steep streets of the old town, and it remains the clearest architectural reference point in Cadaqués for orienting a walk through the rest of the village.
Photo by lemapuche breton (https://www.pexels.com/@lemapuche-breton-1470236) on Pexels (https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-view-of-a-town-with-white-buildings-and-a-church-27706253/)
