Verona Cathedral, Verona (must see)

Verona Cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and stands on the site of earlier churches destroyed in the 1117 earthquake. The present structure, consecrated in 1187, is largely Romanesque, with Gothic elements added during later renovations. It remains the heart of Verona’s historic religious complex.

The west façade features a double porch, Lombard bands, and small pinnacles typical of northern Italian Romanesque. The main portal, sculpted by Maestro Nicolò in 1139, includes reliefs of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist, as well as legendary protectors Roland and Oliver.

Ten prophets flank the doorway, and the tympanum above depicts the Virgin and Child, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Adoration of the Shepherds, forming a complete Nativity cycle. On the south side, a 12th-century portal carved by Peregrinus shows scenes from the story of Jonah. The bell tower, begun in the 16th century and finished only in the 20th, reflects a mix of styles.

Inside, a 15th-century Gothic renovation introduced pointed arches supported by alternating red and white Verona marble columns. The church contains several noteworthy works of art, including Titian’s “Assumption of the Virgin” in the left transept — one of Verona’s finest Renaissance paintings — and a Crucifixion by Giambattista da Verona from 1534. In the western bays, frescoes by Giovanni Maria Falconetto date to 1503.

The Chapter Library, connected to the cathedral, is among Europe’s most important ecclesiastical libraries and holds exceptional manuscripts, including the Leonine Sacramentary, regarded as the oldest surviving text of the Roman Rite. Just steps away, the Canons’ Cloister reveals archaeological remains of earlier cathedral buildings, helping visitors visualize how the site evolved from early Christianity onward.

Tip:
Continue to the Baptistery of Saint Giovanni in Fonte, featuring an impressive octagonal baptismal font richly carved with Biblical scenes. The archaeological areas and audio guide provide helpful explanations of the cathedral’s Roman origins and later transformations.