Santa Galdana and its legend

As it couldn’t be otherwise in Minorca, the name of Cala Galdana or Santa Galdana has also its own legend. It’s being told that long ago a fisherman called Galdano was sailing his boat in front this emblematic cove at the south of Minorca, when he was caught in a violent storm. Fearing for his life he made the vow that if he survived he would dedicate his entire life to praying to God in seclusion along with his daughter.  Finally the storm throws him on the sands of what we now know as Cala Galdana. He decided to fulfil his promise in that very spot.

His daughter continued her father’s promise and bit by bit her fame as a holy and wise woman spread all over Minorca. People came from every corner of the island to seek her advice, comfort and even the miraculous healing of all kind of illnesses .When she died the cave that she and her father lived in continued to be a sanctuary of pilgrimage. Soon afterwards the people of around adopted the Galdana (the daughter of Galdano) as their patron saint. For this reason the cove was also known as Cala of Santa Galdana.

We have not checked the veracity of such a story or tracked Santa Galdana in the files of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, in the Vatican City. Nevertheless, even today, in many maps and road sighs, there is still some confusion between the name of Cala Galdana and that of Santa Galdana.

» Beach of Cala Galdana