Church of St. Martin, Velike Malence

The Church of St. Martin in Velike Malence is located on the northeastern edge of the settlement, on a gently elevated hill near the Krka River, oriented toward the northeast. The church stands on the site of a former prehistoric hillfort and partly on the foundations of a Roman villa rustica. Its origins date back at least to the 12th century, as evidenced by the consecration seal of Bishop Popone, found in the side altar. The nave originates from this period, as indicated by the rectangular Romanesque windows that were documented earlier. In the early 17th century, a polygonal chancel was built on the site of the old semicircular apse, and a bell tower was added in the 19th century. Later restoration work focused on the choir and the renewal of the façade.

The church consists of a Romanesque nave, a Baroque chancel, and a bell tower. On the exterior of the building, alongside newer windows, older details have been preserved, such as a relief of a bull's head on the southern side and a Roman inscription plaque on the northern side. The chancel still contains a bricked-up pointed window on the eastern side. The interior of the nave is covered by a flat wooden ceiling, while the chancel is vaulted with a simple barrel vault. The main altar, dating from the second half of the 17th century and renovated in 1809, features figures of saints, with St. Martin in the central niche. The side altar, renovated in 1848, still houses the original statues of two saints, though the paintings are more modern and of lower quality.

Due to its rich cultural history, which spans from prehistory through the Roman period to the Christian era, the Church of St. Martin is an important monument. Its Romanesque design and rich past attest to its role as an important sacred center in the past and to the development of architecture in the region. In addition to its cultural and architectural features, the church also has significant spatial importance as part of the village's landscape.

The Church of St. Martin holds special significance due to its cultural, architectural, and historical values and has therefore been designated a local cultural monument.