Basilica of San Zeno

Just outside the historic centre, the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is probably the most interesting religious building in the city with its Romanesque-Lombard architecture, whose current appearance dates back to the 12th century.

Description

It was erected on the burial site of Bishop Zeno, of African origin, the eighth bishop of Verona (362-380 AD approximately) who converted the city to Christianity.
One particularly admires the beautiful tuff façade with the superb rose window and the porch, as well as the door whose wooden panels are covered with bronze reliefs illustrating the Bible and where a laughing San Zeno can be seen.

With its three naves, the interior of the basilica is rich in sculptures and paintings from the 12th to the 16th centuries, including the San Zeno altarpiece with the triptych by the Paduan painter Mantegna (1457-1459), with the Virgin and Child between angels and saints, where Saint Peter with the keys, Saint Paul with the sword, Saint John the Evangelist in a pink robe, Saint Zeno in bishop’s robes, Saint Benedict in habit, Saint Lawrence with the dove, Saint Gregory the Great in papal robes, and Saint John the Baptist as a hermit of the desert converse with one another.
The apse has a large marble statue of San Zeno.
The large bright cloister has beautiful columns with double capitals.

Information

• Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org
• Website of the Chiese di Roma association: www.chieseverona.it
• Tourist portals: www.turismoverona.eu

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