Three thousand gold leaves gleam. They adorn the main altarpiece of Sant Marçal. This magnificent church in Marratxí stands before you. Its history stretches back centuries.
Sant Marçal wasn’t always here. The first church in Marratxí was dedicated to Santa Maria del Camí. It was founded in the 13th century. Centuries later Sant Marçal became the patron saint. The church moved several times. In 1699 the current building started rising. Construction continued for fifteen years. The church was isolated then. The village of Sa Cabaneta hadn’t yet developed. Later in the 20th century new houses sprang up around Sant Marçal. A telephone line was installed.
Master builder Lluc Mesquida oversaw the project. He was a prestigious stonemason. He later became the town’s chief master builder and first architect. Sant Marçal has seen changes. Major alterations happened in the 19th and 20th centuries. An earthquake in 1851 damaged the church. Masses were held outside until the façade was rebuilt.
The church’s original style is Baroque. The main façade is from the mid-20th century. It reflects classical church architecture. The twin towers with bulb-shaped domes are distinctive. The inscription on the larger bell tower Na Bàrbara reads: Santa Bàrbara deliver us from lightning and storm.
Inside Sant Marçal the single nave features five side chapels. A semicircular apse houses the altar. Different phases of Baroque development are represented. The church has many valuable artworks. Notable are the altarpieces by Joan Deyà. He was a highly regarded 18th-century Mallorcan sculptor. His works blend Italian French and Germanic influences.
The main altarpiece is a showstopper. Despite its 15th-century image of Sant Marçal its gold leaf is dazzling. Other treasures include the Baroque shrine and the Gothic altarpiece of the high altar tabernacle. It’s attributed to the Homs school a leading artistic group of the period.
Adjoining Sant Marçal is the old cemetery. An interesting stone gateway remains. It’s a late 19th-century Baroque work with an iron Latin cross. Nearby is the vicarage also in Baroque style. Built in the 18th century it underwent 19th-century modifications.
The vicarage houses and church connect via the archive and sacristy. They surround a central courtyard with a garden. A cistern and stone pike are also noteworthy. The spring with a pike inscribed 1649 may be from an old baptismal font.
Each June 30th pilgrims gather. They celebrate Sant Marçal patron saint of Marratxí. They come to venerate the saint. Many travel from Palma to drink water from the cistern. People believe it has healing properties.
Sant Marçal’s feast day is a special occasion. A long-held tradition involves creating the bed of the Virgin Mary. This happens during the Mare de Déu d’Agost festivities. The Sant Marçal boundary cross is also unique. It is the municipality’s only one. This historicist-style cross from the 1930s replaces an older one. It stands near the old road in front of the church. The cross bears various coats of arms. It reflects the history and significance of this special place Sant Marçal.