The Greek city of Emporion

​​​​​“Emporion”, the Greek name for the city, means “shopping centre”, the purpose for which the city was built. It was initially located on a natural port on the old delta of the river Fluvià.

The Greeks established their first settlement in the sixth century bc on the site of the current Sant Martí d’Empúries. It was moved in the fifth century to the site of the current excavations, and quickly became one of the most important trading centres in the Mediterranean.

In the third century bc, and during the Second Punic War, Emporion became part of the Roman Empire, and its name was changed to Emporiae.

In the third century ad, Empúries declined in importance and the city was abandoned.