La Iglesia de Vera Cruz |
Method of Transportation: Walking
Transportation Time: Approximately 20 Minutes
Hours:
April - September 10:30-1:30, 4:00-7:00
October - March 10:30-1:30, 4:00-6:00
Closed Mondays
Cost:
$2.74/€2.00
Free Tuesday Afternoons
The Church of the Vera Cruz, or the Iglesia de la Vera Cruz,
is one of the oldest churches in Segovia. It was built starting in 1208 by the Caballeros
de la Orden del Santo Sepulcro, or the Knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher,
which is sometimes also attributed to the Knights Templar[1].
It is known for its unusual size as the church is built as a twelve sided polygon,
differing from the other churches in Segovia. As one of the “best-preserved of
its kind in Europe,” the Church of the Vera Cruz is noted for its historic
importance[2].
Entrance |
The design of the Church of the Vera Cruz is important to
its structure. Built in a Romanesque style, the church has three individual
chapels, a two story temple, and a bell tower that was added in the sixteenth
century[3].
With Muslim inspired paintings and architecture, the Church of the Vera Cruz
has a very “sober and exciting” interior[4].
There is also a stone alter that is decorated with interlaced arches supported
by twisted columns in the center of the church[5].
The architecture alone makes the church unique, as well as its distinct
structure.
Unique Architecture |
The church has not only undergone structural changes over the
centuries, but has also changed ownership reflective of the different times. After
the dissolution the original order that had constructed the church, the Church
of the Vera Cruz was given to the Orden de San Juan de Jerusalén, or the Order
of St. John of Jerusalem, in 1317; the original order dissolved due to lack of leadership and eventual papal annulment[6]. In 1489, the ownership of the church was officially changed to the Orden de San
Juan, or the Order of St. John, by Pope Innocent VIII, but the change did not
occur until 1531[7]. The
Church of the Vera Cruz remained under the Order of St. John until it was
abandoned in 1836[8].
Eighty-three years later in 1919, King Alfonso XIII declared the Church of the
Vera Cruz a national monument, but it was not in use until 1951[9].
Currently, the chapter of San Juan Baustista is in charge of the church under
the Asamblea Española, or Spanish Assembly[10].
View of the Alcázar |
Visible from the Alcázar, the Church of the Vera Cruz is
fairly accessible by walking and car. The view from the church also gives a
panoramic view of the city near the Alcázar, as well as the surrounding
countryside. The church has undergone many structural and ownership changes
over the centuries, but still remains as one of the best preserved of its kind.
One of the more distinctive churches in Segovia, the Church of the Vera Cruz is
also known for its history and design.
Works Cited
“Iglesia de la Vera Cruz.” turismodesegovia.com. Turismo de Segovia, 2014. http://www.turismodesegovia.com/que-ver/monumentos/iglesias-y-monasterios#siete.
(accessed February 23, 2014).
“IGLESIA DE LA VERA CRUZ
(Segovia).” ordendemalta.es. Orden de
Malta, 2014. http://www.ordendemalta.es/story.php?id=446. (accessed
February 23, 2014).
“Vera Cruz Church.” spain.info. Sociedad Estatal para la Gestión de la
Innovación y las Tecnologías Turísticas, 2014. http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/arte/monumentos/segovia/iglesia_de_la_vera_cruz.html.
(accessed February 23, 2014).
[1] “Iglesia de la Vera Cruz,” turismodesegovia.com.
Turismo de Segovia, 2014, http://www.turismodesegovia.com/que-ver/monumentos/iglesias-y-monasterios#siete
(accessed February 23, 2014).
[2] “Vera Cruz Church,” spain.info. Sociedad Estatal para la Gestión de la
Innovación y las Tecnologías Turísticas, 2014, http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/arte/monumentos/segovia/iglesia_de_la_vera_cruz.html
(accessed February 23, 2014).
[3] “IGLESIA DE LA VERA CRUZ (Segovia),”
ordendemalta.es. Orden de Malta,
2014, http://www.ordendemalta.es/story.php?id=446 (accessed February 23, 2014).
[4] “Iglesia de la Vera Cruz,” turismodesegovia.com.
Turismo de Segovia, 2014.
[5] “IGLESIA DE LA VERA CRUZ (Segovia),”
ordendemalta.es. Orden de Malta,
2014.
[6] Ibid.
[7]
Ibid.
[8]
Ibid.
[9]
Ibid.
[10]
Ibid.