The Church of San Martín de Lleida is an outstanding example of Catalan Romanesque architecture, built in the 12th century and located in the historic center of the city. Throughout its history, it has served various purposes, from being the parish of the Estudi General de Lleida to functioning as a municipal prison in the 19th century. After being restored by order of Bishop Josep Meseguer in 1893, it regained its liturgical use until the 1970s, when it was replaced by a new church of San Martín. Since then, it has housed part of the bishopric’s collection of sacred art and, more recently, has been the temporary home of the Diocesan Museum of Lérida.
Although it is not currently open to the public, the Church of San Martín remains an important historical and cultural monument of the city. Its simple architecture, characterized by a single nave with a gabled roof and an airy belfry that houses the bell, reflects its past as a religious and academic center. In its day, it witnessed the splendor of the Estudi General, the oldest university in the Crown of Aragon, and today, as the seat of a congregation, it continues to be an integral part of Lleida’s cultural heritage.
- Address
Sant Martí St, Lleida - Web
http://www.bisbatlleida.org/parroquia/sant-mart%C3%AD-bisbe-de-tours-lleida - Visiting Hours
Almost always closed - What to see
Beautiful Romanesque gate
