Chiesa di Sant'Elena, Verona

The Church of Sant'Elena, once known as the church of Saints Giorgio and Zeno, is a Catholic place of worship situated at the heart of Verona's historical center, right next to the Cathedral. It is affiliated with the Verona diocese.

Sant'Elena Church stands on the same ground that once held Verona's earliest Christian worship site. This site was established in the 4th century by the efforts of San Zeno, a bishop who would later become the city's patron saint. The original basilica, known as "church A," existed during the Roman era and was situated along the Roman road network. In the 8th century, the current Cathedral was constructed and consecrated on this same site, though it underwent reconstruction in the subsequent years.

The church faced severe damage due to the disastrous Verona earthquake of 1117. It was subsequently rebuilt in the Romanesque style and rededicated in 1140 by Aquileia's patriarch, Pellegrino. Notably, Dante Alighieri delivered his infamous Latin speech, Quaestio de aqua et terra, in this church on January 20, 1320. A plaque on the facade commemorates this event.

In the 15th century, a loggia with vaults supported by columns was built, extending southward for covered access to the Cathedral. In 1625, the Canons' sacristy was added, partially demolishing the loggia. Only the part facing Sant'Elena Church's facade remains. In 1573, architect Bernardino Brugnoli transformed the semicircular apse into a square, giving the church its final appearance. From 1960 to 1970, excavations unveiled the foundations of Verona's oldest basilica, known as "church A."