The Iglesia de la Vera Cruz, located on the outskirts of Segovia, Spain, is an exceptional example of Romanesque architecture with a distinctive dodecagonal (twelve-sided) design. Traditionally attributed to the Knights Templar, recent scholarship suggests that the church was constructed by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and consecrated on April 13, 1208. ​
The church’s unique floor plan features a central two-story edicule, reminiscent of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This design includes three semicircular apses and a square bell tower added in subsequent periods. The central edicule is believed to have been used for rituals and possibly housed relics, including a fragment of the True Cross (Lignum Crucis), which was granted to the church by Pope Honorius III in 1216. ​
Over the centuries, the Iglesia de la Vera Cruz has undergone various modifications and restorations. In 1531, it came under the care of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights of Malta, who continue to oversee its maintenance today. The church was declared a National Monument in 1919, recognizing its historical and architectural significance. ​
Visitors to the church can observe its austere yet captivating interior, featuring remnants of original frescoes and the central edicule’s intricate design. The Iglesia de la Vera Cruz remains an active place of worship and a site of historical intrigue, drawing both pilgrims and tourists interested in its rich past and architectural uniqueness
