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The Basilica of Saint Anastasia (Basilica di Sant’Anastasia) is the largest church in the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Verona. It’s an amazing place to visit for the quality of the artwork inside. Construction of the basilica started in 1280 and it wasn’t consecrated until 1471.

Basilica of Saint Anastasia from Lamberti Tower in Verona, Italy
Basilica of Saint Anastasia from Lamberti Tower

 

Admission

Admission is €4 (as of August 2024) or free for children up to 11 and holders of a Verona Card. The church is open daily. A free audio guide is included in the admission.

Another option is to buy a combo ticket for €8 (as of August 2024). It grants access to four churches in Verona, including the Duomo, San Zeno, and San Fermo.

 

Exterior

The façade of Saint Anastasia remains unfinished. It’s made of brick and has a few fading frescoes above the entrance. There are relief panels to the right of the doors while to the left the space remains empty.

Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Basilica of Saint Anastasia

To the left of the façade, above an archway that leads to an inner courtyard, is the tomb of Guglielmo da Castelbarco, who was a member of a noble family and died in 1320. His elegant tomb inspired the della Scala clan’s Scaliger Tombs.

Tomb of Guglielmo da Castelbarco in Verona, Italy
Tomb of Guglielmo da Castelbarco

The bell tower, which sits behind the church, stands 72m tall. It contains nine bells that were placed there in 1839.

 

Nave

Inside the church, you’ll notice six large columns on each side. There’s also a beautifully decorated vaulted ceiling.

Nave of the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Nave
Nave of the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Nave
Looking towards the entrance of the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Looking towards the entrance
Ceiling of the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Ceiling

Two stoups next to the first two columns are held up by hunchback figures. The one on the left is attributed to Gabriele Caliari (1568-1631) while the one on the right was made by Paolo Orefice.

Stoup by Gabriele Caliari at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Stoup by Gabriele Caliari
Stoup by Paolo Orefice at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Stoup by Paolo Orefice

The rest of the nave is like an art gallery. There are several frescoes on the walls as well as a pipe organ installed in 1937 but reusing the original chest and 16th century choir.

Fresco on a column at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Fresco on a column
Frescoes at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Frescoes
Fresco at Basilica di Sant'Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Fresco
Organ at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Organ

 

Altar

The main altar is made of marble and was consecrated in 1952. Five stained glass windows behind the altar date back to 1935.

Main altar at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Main altar

On the left side of the altar is a monument to Cortesia Serego (1335-1386), an Italian general. It was finished in 1432 by Vincenzo di Stefano da Verona and depicts the general on a horse in armor. The sarcophagus has always been empty.

Monument to Cortesia Serego at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Monument to Cortesia Serego

 

Chapels

There are several side chapels and side altars in the basilica, many with important works of art. One of them contains the tomb of Pietro Cossali (1748-1815), a mathematician who was born in Verona.

Centrego Altar (Altare Centrego) at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Centrego Altar (Altare Centrego)
Boldieri Altar (Altare Boldieri) at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Boldieri Altar (Altare Boldieri)
Tomb of Pietro Cossali (left) at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Tomb of Pietro Cossali (left)

The most famous is the Pellegrini Chapel, which contains an important fresco called San Giorgio and the Princess by Pisanello (c. 1380-c. 1450). It was finished around the 1430s. Unfortunately I don’t have a photo.

For me, the most impressive chapel is the Chapel of the Rosary (Cappella del Rosario), which was built between 1585 and 1596 to commemorate Venice’s victory in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. It contains a stunning Baroque ceiling as well as some paintings and marble statues.

Chapel of the Rosary at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Chapel of the Rosary
Altar of the Chapel of the Rosary at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Altar
Stalls in the Chapel of the Rosary at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Stalls
Dome of the Chapel of the Rosary at the Basilica of Saint Anastasia in Verona, Italy
Dome

 

Church of San Pietro Martire

Outside the Basilica of Saint Anastasia is another smaller church, the Church of San Pietro Martire (Chiesa di San Pietro Martire), also known as the Church of San Giorgetto (Chiesa di San Giorgetto). It was built in 1284 and deconsecrated in 1796. Above the entrance are some frescoes. One of them depicts St. George slaying a dragon.

Church of San Pietro Martire in Verona, Italy
Church of San Pietro Martire
Church of San Pietro Martire in Verona, Italy
Church of San Pietro Martire
Fresco of St. George on the Church of San Pietro Martire in Verona, Italy
Fresco of St. George
Fresco on the Church of San Pietro Martire in Verona, Italy
Fresco

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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