The name ‘Empúries’ is derived from the Latin ‘Empuriae’ which in turn comes from the Classic Greek word ‘Emporion’ meaning ‘market,’ which is how the Greeks spoke of the colony, the initial purpose of which was to have the advantage of being a commercial power. From the early Middle Ages it had always been known as Empúries, or Vila d’Empúries, which would change to Sant Martí d’Empúries (for the arrival of its church) from 1766, when L’Escala became the municipal capital.
In more recent times the most important transformation took place principally during the 1990s with improvements to the village, pedestrian walkways, the beach areas and the old quarter, in order that Empúries would take a lead role at the start of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, welcoming the flame from its journey across the sea. In the village there are little more than five streets and two squares. The main square (La Plaça Major) is the nerve centre of the village, proudly presided by the church of Sant Martí and is where everyone meets on the bar terraces to enjoy the wide gastronomic offerings.