Iglesia de San Martín

Behind the statue of Pizarro stands the church of San Martín. It was customary to build churches near the gates of a city, so that travelers could pray for protection from the Heavens before setting out on a journey or give thanks upon their return. The church of San Martín has a single nave and a cross vault with Gothic tracery.(Lancia Publications, page16)

In the presbytery the Orellanas are buried. To the right is the Cervantes de Gaete family, a member of which was the Archbishop of Mesina and Tarragona. During the Middle Ages the burial of a family member was carried out privately by the family. Members of the nobility were buried in churches like San Martín and Santa María la Mayor. In Trujillo the family of the deceased usually gave an amount of money to the church for construction or repairs. One of the most glorious tombs was that of Lieutenant Jacinto Ruiz de Mendoza, a hero in the war against the French, who fell in Trujillo. His remains were later transferred to a monument in Madrid with the remains of Daoíz and Velarde. People who could not afford to be buried by the Church were usually buried somewhere outside the city. (Lancia Publications, page16-17)

The church's 18th century organ, a magnificent example from that era, resounds its beautiful notes throughout the building.

The door of the Limas (limes) looks towards the Palace of San Carlos. The door gets its name from the relief ornamentation in the form of pomegranates. Pomegranates became a widespread element for decoration after the Catholic Monarchs took back the Kingdom of Granada from the Muslims. Many people mistook the pomegranates for limes; thus the nickname for the door. On the outside of the church one can see the seats used when the local government held public meetings.(Lancia Publications, page17)