Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

One of the most beautiful Romanesque basilicas in

Italy
The Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore is one of the most beautiful Romanesque basilicas
in Italy. It was created under the direction of Pippin, son of Charlemagne, on the ruins of
an ancient Benedictine monastery. It is dedicated to the former Bishop and patron saint
of Verona, San Zeno. The basilica was completed in 1138, and on its outer façade you
can see Veronese engineering typical for the period, which mixed different coloured
building materials. Under the beautiful rose window you enter the basilica through a
bronze door which is framed with magnificent reliefs by the Master Nicolò which
immortalise a number of famous scenes from Genesis and the Bible.

The outdoor area of the basilica includes a beautiful Romanesque bell tower and a
crenelated defence tower. The adjoining cloister is supported by double columns and San Zeno and cloister
contains many graves.

The interior of San Zeno Maggiore

If you enter the three-aisled basilica, the eye is immediately drawn to the impressive chorus of the crypt. You can reach the
high church and choir via a staircase that is located in the nave. Left and right of the main entrance are two baptismal fonts
whose sandstone basin dates from the second century and was originally located in a Roman bath house. The highlight of
the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore is the famous triptych in the main Gothic chapel. It was created by Andrea Mantegna in
1459 and shows Maria. It is surely one of the masterpieces of Northern Italian Renaissance. Many other paintings were
looted by Napoleon and can be admired in the Louvre in Paris today.

Basilica di San Zeno Page 1 of 2

You can find the most important fresco in the north-western part of the church, “The Crucifixion” by Altichiero from the 14th
century. Just behind the high altar on the left-hand side in the apse you can see the smiling statue of Saint San Zeno. It is
made of black marble, which symbolises the supposed the saint’s supposed African origins. San Zeno’s sarcophagus is in
the open crypt. The crypt appears to the visitor like a huge portico and it contains many old frescoes and a modern painting of
the crucifixion.

Entrance

€ 2,50

Opening hours

Monday 9:00 | 18:00

Tuesday 9:00 | 18:00
Wednesday 9:00 | 18:00
Thursday 9:00 | 18:00
Friday 9:00 | 18:00
Saturday 9:00 | 18:00
Sunday 13:00 | 18:00

Discounts

free admission with VeronaCard

Basilica di San Zeno Page 2 of 2