Trip Planner: Europe / Italy / Veneto / Province of Verona / Verona / Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, Verona

4.7

The Basilica di San Zeno is a minor basilica of Verona, Northern Italy. Its fame rests partly on its architecture and partly upon the tradition that its crypt was the place of the marriage of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It stands adjacent to a Benedictine abbey, both dedicated to St Zeno of Verona.HistorySt. Zeno died in 380. According to legend, at a site above his tomb along the Via Gallica, the first small church was erected by Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths. Erection of the present basilica and associated monastery began in the 9th century, when Bishop Ratoldus and King Pepin of Italy attended the translation of the saint's relics into the new church. This edifice was damaged or destroyed by a Magyar invasion in the early 10th-century, at which time Zeno's body was moved to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Matricolare: on May 21, 921, it was returned to its original site in the crypt of the present church. In 967, a new Romanesque edifice was built by Bishop Raterius, with the patronage of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor.On January 3, 1117, the church, along with most of the city, was damaged by an earthquake; the church was restored and enlarged in 1138. Work was completed in 1398 with the reconstruction of the roof and of the Gothic-style apse.

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Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore Reviews

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346 likes

By annfromcaprice On March 19, 2018

San Zeno is a bus ride away from the centre of town but really worth the trip. The cloisters are beautiful but the inside of the basilica is different from anything else I've seen. The audio guide is ... more »
By raggydolly2000 On March 19, 2018

Bellissima basilica, da vedere assolutamente, dalla piazza si può ammirare la facciata e il campanile in tutto il suo splendore. All'interno si trova la magnifica Pala del Mantegna. more »

Beautiful basilica, worth seeing, from the square you can admire the façade and the Bell Tower in all its glory. Inside is the magnificent altarpiece by Mantegna.

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By Matilda C On March 11, 2018

anche se la chiesa di Sant'Anastasia forse mi è piaciuta un'attimino di più la Basilica certo non ha niente da invidiare. se con lei eravamo sul gotico qui invece siamo sul romanico . Si trova a un ki... more »

Although the Church of Sant'Anastasia maybe I liked a little bit more about the Basilica of course has nothing to envy. If you were on here we are on the Gothic Romanesque. Is a kilometrino from the arena. If the façade almost made you think about whether to go or not but here the door with bronze panels and the altarpiece by Mantegna are something to brag about. In addition there is also a nice square recommended ...

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By Oleg Naumov On October 28, 2017

Stunning architectural and cultural monument. Cloister is very beautiful. Inside you are going to enjoy with the frescoes of XIV century. There a lot of beautiful bas-relieves of XII century. Visitors are allowed to take non commercial photo without flash light. Another must see place at Verona.

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By Константин Тихонов On December 8, 2017

Out of four Verona' best churches this is #3 in my rating, below Duomo and St. Anastasia.

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By Linda Bartolucci Scanlon On January 6, 2018

Bella chiesa, bisogna pagare l'entrata (3 ero per adulti sotto i 18 gratis) però poi, danno l'audio guida gratis. La consiglieri, specialmente per il trittico di Mantegna e come posto di culto di San Zeno.

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By Andrew Hindell On September 14, 2017

Extrodinary church full of surprises. The 12th century, bronze 3 dimensional plaques on the doors are simply amazing.

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By Petr Kopač On September 21, 2017

Best church experience in Verona, low fee, free audio guide, informative, not many tourists.

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