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Church · Segóvia, Castela e Leão
Iglesia de la Vera Cruz
Romanesque twelve-sided church, consecrated in 1208, on the road to Zamarramala, facing the Alcázar. In the center it has a small two-story shrine inspired by the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Iglesia de la Vera Cruz
The Vera Cruz is located outside the city, on the slope that rises toward the village of Zamarramala, facing the Alcázar. A plaque inside the temple records its consecration on 13 April 1208. The building was for a long time attributed to the Templars, but today it is believed to have been the work of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.
The plan is a dodecagon, twelve-sided, surrounding a central two-story shrine. The model comes from centrally planned churches inspired by the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Later the three apses at the east end, a semicircular sacristy and the square tower were added; the tower was originally separate from the church.
The name comes from a fragment of the Cross, the lignum crucis, sent by Pope Honorius III in 1216. The relic was taken in 1692 to the new church of Zamarramala, where it remains. With the 1836 confiscations (desamortization), the temple was sold and came to be used as a hayloft.
It was declared a national monument in 1919. Since 1951 it has been under the care of the Order of Malta.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 40 minutes. Add the round-trip walking time from the old town.
Best time
Late afternoon, when you can combine it with the Mirador de la Pradera de San Marcos nearby. It is closed on Mondays, and opening hours vary by month: check before you go.
How to get there
It's on the other side of the Eresma, in the San Marcos neighborhood, on the road to Zamarramala. From the upper town, exit through the Puerta de Santiago, go down to the Eresma river and cross the bridge; it's about a 15–20 minute walk, with an uphill return.
Tip
Outside the church, the higher ground offers a view of the Alcázar and the city. Combine the visit with El Parral, about 500 meters away, and with the Pradera de San Marcos.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Iglesia de la Vera Cruz
Is La Vera Cruz a Templar church?
That's what tradition says, but today the construction is attributed to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The date, 1208, is recorded on a slab inside the temple.
Why does the church have twelve sides?
It follows the model of centralized-plan churches inspired by the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, with a nave surrounding a central small temple.
Where is the relic that gave the church its name?
The fragment of the Cross arrived in 1216 and was transferred in 1692 to the parish church of Zamarramala, where it remains to this day.