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The church of Vera Cruz in Segovia, located a short distance north of the City, on the hillside suburb of Zamarramala, is perhaps the most complete specimen preserved in Europe of a temple constituted of a central aedicule around which turns the circular nave. This type of dodecagonal architectural style, which is found in Roman baptistery of the first centuries of Christianity, is common in buildings that were built by the knights of various orders founded by the Crusaders in Palestine. The origin of this trend could be in the Mosque of the Rock and the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, both in Jerusalem. The Knights Templars, who had established their headquarters in that Mosque, adopted such constructions in their churches in Paris (France) and Tomar (Portugal), and they were also used by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in the temple of Torres del Rio (Navarra).

The construction of the Church of Vera Cruz (Segovia), earlier called the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, is legendarily attributed to the Templars, but more recent studies cast doubt on this. It seems more true that it was raised by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre Commandery, a dependency of the Collegiate del Toro (Zamora). When the Collegiate joined the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the temple came under the rule of the latter (1531), where it has remained ever since.

The Knights of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes, titular rulers of Malta and Rhodes, often held their offices and religious functions in the church over the years. Notably on Good Friday and the procession in that night up the road to Zamarramala by candlelight, the Knights covered in their black habits.

There is no doubt the date of the dedication of the temple, inscribed on a tombstone embedded in the little building, opposite the side door. It reads:

''The founders of this church are placed in the heavenly host, and those accompanying them were lost in it. Dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. On the Ides of April 1246.''

Additions to the original building were added later: first a quarter apse (utilized as a sacristy), then the tower, which at first was built probably away from the church in the style of an Italian campanile (as deduced from the remains of a a quadrangular building near the current tower).

The architectural style of the building corresponds to the period of transition from Romanesque to Gothic.