Iglesia de San Marcos (St. Marcus Church), Salamanca

Saint Marcus Church stands out as one of the most original Romanesque churches in Spain. Constructed in the late 11th or early 12th century during Salamanca’s medieval repopulation, this petite chapel is remarkable for its perfectly circular plan, approximately 22 meters in diameter.
The circular design may have been inspired by foreign influences-perhaps Burgundian churches-and carries symbolic connotations of eternity and divine perfection, accentuated by an eastward orientation toward sunrise and spiritual renewal.

Inside, the spatial design continues to impress: the church features three aisles culminating in three semi-circular apses. A major discovery in the late 20th century revealed medieval frescoes, likely from the High Middle Ages, which had been concealed during the Black Death and later revealed during restoration.

Beyond its architectural novelty, Saint Marcus served as the headquarters of the Church of Saint Mark, a powerful guild of clerics active from the 14th through 18th centuries. During the city’s cloistered resonance following the Reconquest, it anchored the local community and served as a spiritual center for newly repopulating groups.