Iglesia de San Juan de Sahagun (St. John of Sahagun Church), Salamanca

Saint John of Sahagun Church stands where the medieval Church of Saint Matthew once stood. Commissioned by Bishop Cámara and originally designed by architect Joaquín de Vargas, the church embodies a revivalist neo‑Romanesque style that echoes Salamanca’s architectural past-most notably inspired by the Old Cathedral’s interior and its Tower of the Cockerel.

The church’s richly detailed façade captivates onlookers with its prominent rose window and twin sculptural panels flanking it-depictions of two of Saint John of Sahagún’s most celebrated miracles: the pacification of warring factions and the miracle of the “yellow well”. Its tower, topped with an elegant spire, strongly recalls the medieval architectural spirit of the Tower of the Cockerel and adds a vertical flourish to Salamanca’s skyline.

Step inside, and you’ll find a Latin‑cross layout featuring a central nave, two side aisles, and a polygonal apse-classically Romanesque in form. The church houses a rich collection of sacred artworks salvaged from demolished or destroyed Salamanca churches: martyr images from Saint Eulalia, a revered Saint Boal attributed to Alonso Berruguete or his workshop, a Madonna and Child originally from Saint Boal, depictions of Mary Magdalene and Our Lady of Great Sorrow, and Franciscan saints from Saint Anthony the Royal. The baptistry features a rare Italian painting of Our Lady of Good Counsel and the original font and “Christ of Consolation” from Saint Matthew.

Dedicated to Saint John of Sahagún, an Augustinian friar celebrated for his peacemaking and compassionate care for the marginalized, the church preserves his legacy through both architecture and spiritual devotion.