The church follows a central-plan design, rare in Spanish Romanesque architecture, imitating the rotunda of Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The two-story central edicule served as a liturgical space for the Order, where initiates would meditate inside the stone chamber.
The church was officially declared a National Monument in 1919.
The original reliquary of the True Cross, once kept here, was moved to the cathedral of Segovia for security reasons.
The dodecagonal structure is flanked by an apse that protrudes significantly from the main rotunda.
The interior contains a 16th-century retable featuring paintings of the Passion of Christ.
The Iglesia de la Vera Cruz is a 13th-century dodecagonal Romanesque church located in Segovia, Spain. Constructed in 1208, it is traditionally attributed to the Knights Templar, though historical documentation suggests it was built by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. The building features a unique two-story central chamber known as the 'aedicula' or 'edicule,' inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Its floor plan is based on a dodecagon, a geometric shape signifying the twelve apostles. The interior contains a small chapel that functioned as a reliquary for the True Cross, from which the church derives its name. The structure remained under the management of the Order of Malta, the successor to the original owners, and is now a designated Bien de Interés Cultural. It sits on the periphery of the city, offering a distinct visual contrast to the nearby Alcázar of Segovia.
From the winding road leading down toward the Eresma river, which captures the church positioned against the silhouette of the Segovia skyline.
Walk the perimeter trail surrounding the church for elevated views of the Alcázar of Segovia.
Bring a light jacket as the interior stone walls remain cool even during the peak of summer.
Do not attempt to walk directly through the unpaved valley fields from the city center in rainy weather, as the paths become muddy.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
Maintain a quiet tone suitable for a sacred space; modest dress is expected as it is a place of worship.
