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The Basilica of St. 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.
Introduction to the Basilica of St. Anastasia
The Basilica of St. Anastasia, officially the Church of St. Peter of Verona in St. Anastasia (Chiesa di San Pietro da Verona in Santa Anastasia), is located near the north end of the historic center of Verona. Construction started under the Dominicans in 1290 with significant donations from the ruling della Scala clan.
The church wasn’t consecrated until October 22, 1471, and other details weren’t completed for another 200 years. The Dominicans were expelled on March 19, 1807, and the church became a parish administered by secular clergy. The attached convent later became the home of the Maffei Institute (Istituto Maffei), one of the oldest high schools in Italy. Restorations were carried out between 1878 and 1881, from 1967 through the 1970s, and again in the 2000s.
Visiting the Basilica of St. Anastasia
Admission is €4 (as of May 2025) or free for kids under 11 and holders of a Verona Card. The church is open daily. A free printed info sheet and downloadable audio guide are included with admission. Check the official website for more information.
Another option is to buy a combo ticket for €8 (as of May 2025). It grants access to four churches in Verona, including the Duomo, San Zeno, and San Fermo.
Façade
Although it remains unfinished, the mostly brick façade of the Basilica of St. Anastasia exhibits Gothic architecture with Renaissance elements. The wide entrance portal dates back to the first half of the 15th century. The main lunette features a fading fresco of the Holy Trinity with St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary on the sides. In the smaller lunettes, one depicts the Bishop of Verona leading the people with the city’s banner while in the other St. Peter of Verona (1205-1252) leads the Dominicans with their black and white banner.
On the architrave is a relief with six different events of the life of Christ. The statue to the left of the relief represents St. Anastasia while to the right is St. Catherine of the Wheel. On the column between the doors is a statue of the Virgin and Child.
Only two of the four relief panels framing the portal were completed. They’re both on the right side while the spaces to the left are empty. On top is St. Peter of Verona preaching to a crowd while below is a representation of his martyrdom. An unfinished rose window sits above the portal.
The bell tower, which stands atop a chapel to the left side of the apse, is 72 meters high. It was constructed in the 15th century and the first five bells were placed inside in 1460. The present bells were cast on August 12, 1839. Another was added on May 31, 1840, followed by an additional 3 in 1923, bringing the total to 9.
Nave of the Basilica of St. Anastasia
The Basilica of St. Anastasia is on a Latin cross plan. The central nave is separated from the aisles by six massive red and white marble columns on each side, topped with Gothic capitals. There’s also a beautifully decorated vaulted ceiling. The floors were paved by Pietro da Porlezza starting in 1462.
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. The rest of the nave is like an art gallery with several frescoes and paintings on the walls as well as a 16th century choir.
Apses
The Basilica of St. Anastasia has five apses with the high altar in the central apse. The altar is made of yellow marble and dedicated to St. Peter of Verona. It was consecrated in 1952. The five stained glass windows were installed in 1935 and depict St. Thomas, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Peter of Verona, St. Rose of Lima, and St. Dominic de Guzmán.
On the left side of the central apse is a monument to Cortesia Serego (1335-1386), an Italian general. It was completed in 1432 and depicts the general on a horse in armor. The sculptor may have been Pietro di Niccolò while the fresco behind it was completed by Vincenzo di Stefano da Verona. The sarcophagus has always been empty. On the right side is the Last Judgement, attributed to Turone di Maxio (c. 1356-c. 1390).
The side apses contain the chapels of the noble Cavalli, Pellegrini, Lavagnoli, and Salerni families. 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.
Chapels and Altars
There are 11 chapels and altars along the aisles and another in the right transept. Some contain important works of art.
Boldieri Chapel
The Boldieri Chapel (Cappella Boldieri) is the first chapel on the left aisle. Also known as the Altar of St. Peter the Martyr, it was commissioned by Gerardo Boldieri and built in the mid-15th century. The altar dates back to the 17th century, and Boldieri himself is buried to the left. The altarpiece contains statues of St. Sebastian, St. Peter the Martyr and St. Roch in the lower niches while the Madonna with Child is in the upper niche. Three niches on each side feature statues of St. Dominic, St. Francis and St. Anthony the Abbot on the left, and St. Vincent, St. John the Baptist, St. Christopher on the right. Above the altar is a fresco of the Coronation of the Virgin.
Miniscalchi Chapel
The Miniscalchi Chapel is fourth on the left aisle. It was commissioned by the Miniscalchi family, who arrived in Verona at the end of the 14th century. The altar was built by Mastro Agnolo in 1436 on a design attributed to Pietro da Porlezza. The altarpiece is the Descent of the Holy Spirit, painted by Nicolò Giolfino (c. 1476-1555) in 1518. The semi-dome contains a depiction of Pentecost by Francesco Morone (1471-1529). On the left side is the tomb of Zanino Miniscalchi.
The sides of the chapel are framed by Corinthian columns with three niches on each side. They contain statues of St. Sebastian, St. Francis, St. John the Baptist, St. Jerome, St. Vincent Ferrer, and St. John the Evangelist. To the left of the chapel is the tomb of Pietro Cossali (1748-1815), a mathematician born in Verona.
Chapel of the Rosary
At the end of the left aisle, just before the transept, is the Chapel of the Rosary (Cappella del Rosario), which is entered through an Ionic arch. It was built by the Society of the Rosary between 1585 and 1596 to commemorate Venice’s victory in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. The design is attributed to architect Domenico Curtoni.
The altarpiece is Our Lady of Humility, which is attributed to Lorenzo Veneziano, while the lunette contains the Coronation of the Virgin by Marcantonio Vassetti. In front of the altar are marble statues of Faith and Prayer by Gabriele Brunelli (1615-1682). The dome is decorated with the Assumption and the Trinity, painted by Marco Antonio Bassetti (1586-1630). On the left wall is Christ Praying in the Garden by Pietro Bernardi, completed in the first half of the 17th century. On the right wall is The Flagellation of Christ, painted by Claudio Ridolfi (1560-1644) in 1619.
Centrego Altar
The Centrego Altar (Altare Centrego) is on the wall of the right transept. It was commissioned by Cosimo Centrego and built between 1488 and 1502. The altar is dedicated to St. Thomas Aquinas. It’s decorated by the altarpiece the Madonna with Child, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine and the donors Cosimo Centrego and Orsolina Cipolla, painted in 1502 by Girolamo dai Libri (1474/75-1555).
Sacristy
The entrance to the sacristy is in the left transept. The wall is decorated with frescoes attributed to Boninsegna. Above are three paintings: St. Cecilia by Alessandro Turchi (1578-1649), the Miracle of St. Hyacinth and the Deposition by Paolo Farinati (c. 1524-c. 1606), and St. Paul, St. Dionysius, Magdalene and devotees by Francesco Morone (1471-1529).
The sacristy was built in 1453 by the Giusti family to house the Giusti Chapel (Cappella Giusti), their funerary chapel. The chapel and altar were renovated in 1598, losing their original appearance. The altarpiece, made by Felice Riccio (1542-1605), depicts several saints with the Virgin and St. Vincent. On the floor of the chapel is a 16th century tomb depicting the Giusti coat of arms, while the sacristy contains another tomb dated 1793. The stained glass windows, dated around 1460, are the oldest in Verona.
Organ
The Baroque pipe organ was built in 1625. It sits in the fifth bay on the left aisle. Giovanni Cipria made the mechanical parts while Andrea Cudellino made the wooden parts. The organ was restored in 1937 by Domenico Farinati reusing the original case, and it was electrified in 1967.
Church of St. Peter the Martyr
Outside the Basilica of St. Anastasia is the smaller Church of St. Peter the Martyr (Chiesa di San Pietro Martire), also known as the Church of San Giorgetto (Chiesa di San Giorgetto). It was built between 1283 and consecrated on April 24, 1354. The church was used by the Dominicans during the construction of the basilica.
In the middle of the 14th century, the church was granted to the Brandenburg knights of Germany to be used as their chapel. The knights adorned the church with their coat of arms and frescoes. The church was briefly returned to the Dominicans and renamed in 1424 for St. Peter of Verona. In 1494, it became property of the Salerni family and was later returned to the Dominicans. The church was confiscated by Napoleon and deconsecrated in 1796. Under the Austrians, it was ceded to the municipality of Verona, which still owns it today.
Above the entrance portal is a depiction St. George slaying a dragon, painted by Jacopo Ligozzi (1547-1627). The funeral urn of Dr. Bavarino Crescenzi (d. 1346) is to the right of the portal. Another portal on the right side of the church contains a faded fresco supposedly depicting St. Peter of Verona. The interior features works attributed to Turone di Maxio and Domenico Riccio.
Tomb of Guglielmo da Castelbarco
Between the two churches, above an archway that leads to an inner courtyard, is the 14th century tomb of nobleman Guglielmo da Castelbarco (d. 1320), the former podestà of Verona. His elegant funerary monument inspired the Scaliger Tombs.
