Church of San Martín

Church of San Martín tickets: which one to buy

The Church of San Martin stands on a small square along the Calle Real, the main street that runs from the aqueduct to the cathedral in the old town of Segovia, and it is one of the finest Romanesque churches in the city. Entry is possible at service times, and the church is sometimes open for visits for a small fee; the exterior, with its famous portico, can be seen at any time and is the main reason to stop.

Segovia is about half an hour from Madrid by high-speed train, and day tours combine the aqueduct, the cathedral and the Alcazar. Walking tours of the old town pass San Martin on the way, together with the Casa de los Picos and the Plaza Mayor. The square beside the church, with statues and old mansions, is a pleasant stop. Guided walking tours from the aqueduct include the church and last about two hours.

Visiting Church of San Martín: what to see

The church was built in the twelfth century, in the heyday of Segovian Romanesque, on the site of an earlier Mozarabic church. Its most distinctive feature is the covered gallery, or portico, that surrounds three sides of the church, with arches resting on double columns whose capitals are carved with biblical scenes, animals and plants. These porticoes, used for meetings of guilds and councils in the Middle Ages, are typical of Segovia. The main west portal has column statues of apostles and prophets. The tower, built of brick in the Mudejar style, rises above the crossing.

Inside, the church was altered in later centuries, and it holds chapels with tombs of noble families, a Gothic sculpture of Christ and Flemish paintings. The square beside the church is surrounded by historic houses, including the house of the Lozoya family with its tower. One of the capitals of the portico shows scenes from the life of Saint Martin, including the famous episode in which he shares his cloak with a beggar. The Mudejar tower has decorative brickwork patterns typical of the region. Inside, a recumbent tomb effigy of a knight lies in a side chapel. The square beside the church holds a statue of Juan Bravo, a leader of the revolt of the Comuneros in the sixteenth century.

Church of San Martín opening hours and the best time to go

The church opens mainly for services, and visiting hours vary, so the exterior is the safest plan. Segovia is busy at weekends with visitors from Madrid, and weekdays are quieter. The city is high and cold in winter, sometimes with snow, and pleasantly cool in summer evenings. The festival of Saints John and Peter in late June brings celebrations, and Holy Week processions are important. Suckling pig, cochinillo, is the local speciality, served in restaurants near the aqueduct. Allow about fifteen minutes to see the portico, and continue along the Calle Real to the Plaza Mayor and the cathedral. The Casa de los Picos, a mansion covered with pointed stone, is a short walk down the street.