Together with the Arena and Juliet's house, the basilica of San Zeno is one of Verona most representative places.
The church is dedicated to Saint Zeno, eighth bishop of Verona. He was of African origin and this is the reason why he is often depicted with a dark skin complexion. He died in 380 a.D. and was buried in one of the cemeteries outside city walls of the Roman Verona. That's why St Zeno's church is now a bit outside the historical centre.
After the terrible earthquake in 1117, St Zeno basilica was rebuilt in its actual form. At the same time, next to the church was built a large Benedictine abbey, one of the richest in northern Italy so that even the emperor Frederick II stayed in it with his large court, and also mentioned in Dante's Purgatory. Of the old abbey nowadays remain a tower and the fascinating cloister closed up by a long uninterrupted series of small double columns of red Verona marble.
The facade of St Zeno is considered one of the purest examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. It is made in tuff, which gives St Zeno its peculiar honey-like colour. In the centre of the façade the rose window, also known as the Wheel of Fortune because of the sculptures by master Brioloto representing six human figures, the king on top, the man in despair at its bottom.
St Zeno Bronze Portal
Among St Zeno many artistic and historical treasures is the basilica monumental bronze portal, divided into 48 panels. The oldest going back to the eleventh century with an evident German influence, the last ones added at the end of thirteenth century. The panels represent themes from the Old and the New Testament with the four exorcisms by San Zeno. St Zeno portal is considered one of the most representative examples of medieval art in Italy.
Mantegna's Triptych
Another fundamental masterpiece in St. Zeno's church is the altarpiece painted by Andrea Mantegna in 1459: Our Lady sitting on a throne between angels and saints. It represents the cornerstone of Renaissance art in Verona.
For tourists accompanied by authorized tourist guide, the entrance fee for churches included in the Chiese Vive association itinerary, is 1 euro instead of 3.
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Verona Guided Itinerary 