Iglesia de la Vera Cruz
Iglesia de la Vera Cruz
4.5
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4.5
430 reviews
Excellent
241
Very good
149
Average
34
Poor
4
Terrible
2
majeo
Miami, FL3,309 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar
Nothing special about the structure or decor but still we paid the 3 euros admissions fee, and went in for quick prayer.
This church is the only attraction that is considered far from the rest of Segovia attractions.
It sit pretty alone down in the valley and can be seen from the Alcazar.
Free parking available in the front yard.
C U AROUND
Nothing special about the structure or decor but still we paid the 3 euros admissions fee, and went in for quick prayer.
This church is the only attraction that is considered far from the rest of Segovia attractions.
It sit pretty alone down in the valley and can be seen from the Alcazar.
Free parking available in the front yard.
C U AROUND
Written 12 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Razorfish
Little Rock, AR5,281 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
My wife and I took a day trip to Segovia during a visit to Madrid this past spring. Our tour guide showed us the Iglesia de la Vera Cruz in the distance when we were at the Alcazar. It was too far to walk to it and we didn’t have time anyway. The most interesting thing about the church is that it was built by the Knights Templar.
Written 7 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LJGBR
Segovia, Spain19 contributions
Apr 2016 • Family
It is a very interesting Church to see for all those interested in history and architecture.
All the Templar constructions are circular, although there have been many esoteric explanations for this fact no one has been able to prove them. The Church currently belongs to the order of Malta heiress of the Temple after its dissolution.
All the Templar constructions are circular, although there have been many esoteric explanations for this fact no one has been able to prove them. The Church currently belongs to the order of Malta heiress of the Temple after its dissolution.
Written 2 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LPWilliams
London, UK1,042 contributions
Oct 2013 • Solo
I viewed the Iglesia de la Vera Cruz on a day-trip to Segovia as part of my 7 full-day visit to Madrid.
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I have compiled extensive individual Trip Advisor 'Trip Lists' for both my day-trip to Segovia and visit to see the sights of Madrid, they are entitled respectively 'Segovia Day-Trip from Madrid Oct 2013' and 'Madrid Attractions (+ Toledo/Segovia Day Trips) : 7 Full-Day Visit Oct 2013'. Please feel free to access them via my TA Profile (by clicking my TA 'name' below the photo on the left of this review) and links in each TL. I hope that they are of interest and use to you...
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This pretty church is sited to the north, just outside the walled-perimeter of the city at 'ground-level' in a solitary position on a slight rise by a main road.
The shape of the building is unusual and the exterior is very pleasant to look at - see my photo attached to this review.
I couldn't go inside as despite the fact that it SHOULD have been open the curator was on holiday so it was closed; as I knew beforehand I didn't walk down to it, but instead took advantage of the excellent view you can get of it from the viewpoint in front of the Alcazar.
This is a good option if you can't walk to it, don't want to or (like me, especially as it was closed !) can't be bothered - my Trip List has maps/views etc showing where the necessary viewpoints are.
I saved myself the disappointment of finding that it was closed, had I walked to it, by enquiring at the tourist information office located in Plaza Mayor.....
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I have compiled extensive individual Trip Advisor 'Trip Lists' for both my day-trip to Segovia and visit to see the sights of Madrid, they are entitled respectively 'Segovia Day-Trip from Madrid Oct 2013' and 'Madrid Attractions (+ Toledo/Segovia Day Trips) : 7 Full-Day Visit Oct 2013'. Please feel free to access them via my TA Profile (by clicking my TA 'name' below the photo on the left of this review) and links in each TL. I hope that they are of interest and use to you...
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This pretty church is sited to the north, just outside the walled-perimeter of the city at 'ground-level' in a solitary position on a slight rise by a main road.
The shape of the building is unusual and the exterior is very pleasant to look at - see my photo attached to this review.
I couldn't go inside as despite the fact that it SHOULD have been open the curator was on holiday so it was closed; as I knew beforehand I didn't walk down to it, but instead took advantage of the excellent view you can get of it from the viewpoint in front of the Alcazar.
This is a good option if you can't walk to it, don't want to or (like me, especially as it was closed !) can't be bothered - my Trip List has maps/views etc showing where the necessary viewpoints are.
I saved myself the disappointment of finding that it was closed, had I walked to it, by enquiring at the tourist information office located in Plaza Mayor.....
Written 2 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Minnie G
London, UK192 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Takes you back to in time. It has a charm all of its own, small but steeped in history. We took a walk down from the Alcazar. The walk down was great, so much to see along the way. Going up again is a different matter. Take good walking shoes, and fit legs.
Written 10 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
madamedefarge
Derby, UK568 contributions
Dec 2013 • Couples
We hadn't intended to visit this, as it was a bit out of the way and we didn't have long in Segovia. However, we took the wrong path when we were walking outside the walls and ended up going outside the city and found ourselves near this church. It looked interesting, so we waited until it opened up and paid our 2€ to go inside. There's a small leaflet available to read about the history of the church and it really is the most fascinating place.
We've never seen a twelve sided church before and the inside is wonderfully different to any other church we've seen. There is a two floored building inside the church, which you access by a double staircase. Opinion is divided about what this was for, but the main suggestion appears to be that it's where knights kept vigil before they were knighted. The church is now looked after by the Knights of Malta and used for their religious and other ceremonies. You get the sense that the church is stuck in time, in a very good way, as it is over 800 years old and probably hasn't changed that much. It's well worth a visit and you get a great view of the Alcazar too.
We've never seen a twelve sided church before and the inside is wonderfully different to any other church we've seen. There is a two floored building inside the church, which you access by a double staircase. Opinion is divided about what this was for, but the main suggestion appears to be that it's where knights kept vigil before they were knighted. The church is now looked after by the Knights of Malta and used for their religious and other ceremonies. You get the sense that the church is stuck in time, in a very good way, as it is over 800 years old and probably hasn't changed that much. It's well worth a visit and you get a great view of the Alcazar too.
Written 11 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SyrinxSounds
Victoria, Canada1,413 contributions
Mar 2011
The Vera Cruz Church outside the city walls of Segovia was completely worth the walk. We opted to walk to the church right off the bus so that we'd not be too close to the lunch closing time. After viewing the church it was a steep but completely manageable climb up to the Alcazar through a back entrance in the city wall. The walk out edged along the wall and skirted the river past lovely village buildings. The walk back to town cut right up the edge of the "mountain" and through one of the old city gates straight to the courtyard of the Alcazar.
The Vera Cruz Church is a gem of simplicity. Unlike so many basilica and cross-shaped churches the octagonal building resonates of equity.. There is a sense of deeds and good works done here ... quite intangible, but present. It is interesting that the building sits almost alone on a hill outside the city walls. Were the Templars banished there? Did the Templars set up outside the city by choice? Were the Templars invited to be a first line of defense on the main road? Inside the symbolism was no less provocative, and no more decipherable to the layperson's eye.
So different from any other sight we saw in Spain, it was a pleasure to walk the extra mile to take it in first hand.
The Vera Cruz Church is a gem of simplicity. Unlike so many basilica and cross-shaped churches the octagonal building resonates of equity.. There is a sense of deeds and good works done here ... quite intangible, but present. It is interesting that the building sits almost alone on a hill outside the city walls. Were the Templars banished there? Did the Templars set up outside the city by choice? Were the Templars invited to be a first line of defense on the main road? Inside the symbolism was no less provocative, and no more decipherable to the layperson's eye.
So different from any other sight we saw in Spain, it was a pleasure to walk the extra mile to take it in first hand.
Written 16 October 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip C
York, ME578 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
To think we almost missed getting inside (check the times!). We had done a morning dirve to the Castles at Coca and Turegano and noticed this quaint Romanesque Church in the valley across from the Alcazar. We really just stopped for photo ops of the Castle but then checked TA to see what this church was all about. After reading about the history, we decided we had to go in (about 2 hours hence). So, we parked the car at an adjacent lot, stormed the castle up many flights of shaded steps, toured the Alcazar, and returned to an open side door. And there we got to see this unique "round" (12-sided), 1000 year old church built by the Knights Templar who still return for annual events! If you are enthralled by Romanesque churches, this is not to be missed!
Written 8 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John M
Raleigh, NC1,734 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
This church dates from the 1200s when its owner, the Orden de Malta (The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta), was seated here. An altar that the order still uses dates from Roam times. The order is a lay Catholic organization that does charity work. In medieval times, its members were also warrior knights. Fascinating! An interesting inscription inside reads "Before being conscious, you must be free. Freedom precedes consciousness."
Written 15 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Coellum
Manila, Philippines1,227 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
I first noticed this chapel while visiting the Alcazar. It is very visible from the windows there. We passed by before leaving Segovia, by driving there. There is a bus that goes to the area. However, I think a car was the most convenient way to visit it.
The church was built by the Templars. Today it is owned by the Knights of Malta. This structure is mentioned in the Da Vinci Code. Some strange paintings that we saw included a Last Supper at an oval table instead of a rectangular one. The other was of an Arab praying the rosary. The architecture has a circular center with a stairwell leading to an altar at the top. Most unusual layout from the standard cross of Gothic cathedrals.
The church was built by the Templars. Today it is owned by the Knights of Malta. This structure is mentioned in the Da Vinci Code. Some strange paintings that we saw included a Last Supper at an oval table instead of a rectangular one. The other was of an Arab praying the rosary. The architecture has a circular center with a stairwell leading to an altar at the top. Most unusual layout from the standard cross of Gothic cathedrals.
Written 20 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Me gustaría saber los horarios de visita que tiene la Iglesia de la Veracruz, iremos el Sábado dia 5 de Noviembre a visitarla.Muchas gracias!!
Written 28 October 2016
Hola,creo recordar que era de 10.30 a 13.30y de tarde de 16.00 a 18.00 en horario de invierno,aunque nosotros fuimos por semana.Puedes saberlo fijo en la pagina web segoviaturismo.
Written 29 October 2016
Здравствуйте Татьяна! Подскажите, время работы церкви de la vera cruz segovia?
Written 13 January 2016
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