Verona is one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in Italy. In addition to the story of Romeo and Juliet, the rich ancient heritage, the stunning castle and a lot of beautiful civic architecture, Verona has many churches. And these churches are very ancient, richly and elegantly decorated with a magnificent history.
The Cathedral – together with the Baptistery, the Chapter Library and the Church of St. Helena – the church forms a single architectural ensemble. Churches were built on this site since the IV century, but they were destroyed by fires and earthquakes. Partially preserved only the cathedral of XII century – from it remained the entrance with twisted columns, winged griffins and relief depicting the Virgin Mary. Later it was completed in the Gothic style – high narrow windows, rosettes and pointed arches appeared. The upper part of the facade was built later in the XVII century, so stylistically it differs from the whole building. As well as the top of the bell tower, which was added in the last century. The white marble facade of the cathedral is a unique combination of Gothic and Romanesque style, and inside there are preserved ancient mosaic floors, medieval carvings and stucco. The temple has three naves divided by red marble columns; the two side ones have symmetrical organs. The left one is decorated with a XVI century painting depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In the central one there is an altar and frescoes. In the chapels there are Renaissance paintings, mostly by local masters. Of particular value are the Romanesque frescoes of the XII century and the sarcophagus of the XIV century with the relics of St. Agatha located in one of the chapels.
The Church of San Zeno Maggiore, the patron saint of Verona, whose relics are kept in the crypt. The church is one of the best examples of Romanesque style in Italy, the interior walls are painted with frescoes of XII-XIV centuries, the bronze gates with scenes from the New and Old Testament date from XI-XII centuries, the famous triptych of the early Renaissance “The Majesty of the Virgin Mary” belongs to the hand of Andrea Mantegna, the elegant monastery courtyard is typical of the era. Here Castellani filmed the movie of Romeo and Juliet.
The Church of Santa Anastasia is the largest in Verona, a beautiful example of the Gothic style. The church is considered a picture gallery of Verona masters, on the chapel of Pellegrini there is a masterpiece by the artist Pisanello: the famous fresco of the legend of St. George and the Princess, in the chapel of the Rosary “Madonna of Humility” by Lorenzo Veneziano of the XIV century. A functioning organ from the first half of the 17th century.
The double church of San Fermo Maggiore – Saints Fermo and Rustico: the lower church of the XI century in Romanesque style with frescoes of the XII-XIV centuries, and the upper one of the XIV century in Gothic style with a wooden ceiling in the form of the keel of a ship of that era and a fresco of the famous artist of the Gothic period Pisanello “Annunciation”.
The Church of Santa Maria in Organo, famous for its Renaissance wooden inlays by the master Fra Giovanni da Verona. Giorgio Vasari, author of the famous “Lives”, considered this sacristy the most beautiful in Italy.
VERONA CHURCHES
