San Juan del Mercado church

San Juan del Mercado is a Romanesque church in Benavente featuring three interior naves and rounded apses built entirely from stone with wooden roof covering. The walls throughout show carved signatures left by the individual stonemasons who constructed the building.

Construction started in 1181 under the patronage of Aldonza, daughter of two prominent local counts, with support from the Hospitaller Order. The church was built during the height of Romanesque style in northern Spain, a period when this architectural form defined religious buildings across the region.

The south doorway displays detailed stone carvings of religious scenes and prophetic figures that reflect how faith was taught through visual imagery. These sculptures offer insight into what mattered most to worshippers when the building was created.

The church is located on Plazuela de San Juan in the town center and welcomes visitors during designated opening hours throughout the warmer months. Plan your visit in early afternoon when daylight reaches inside to reveal the carved details on the walls and architectural features.

The stone walls contain thousands of individual carved marks left by workers who used axes to sign their handiwork on each block they shaped. These personal signatures scattered across the walls represent a form of medieval craftsmanship recognition that remains visible today.

Location: Benavente

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

GPS coordinates: 42.00381,-5.67769

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:02