Abbazia di San Zeno, Romanesque abbey in Verona, Italy.
The Abbazia di San Zeno is a Romanesque abbey in Verona, built around a three-nave church supported by red marble columns. The complex also includes a Gothic cloister, a freestanding bell tower, and a crypt that runs beneath the main nave.
The site developed in the 9th century over an earlier place of worship linked to Saint Zeno, who had been bishop of Verona in the 4th century. Much of what visitors see today was rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1117, which led to the construction of the current Romanesque church.
The abbey is named after Saint Zeno, an early Christian bishop who is still venerated in Verona today. His relics are kept in the crypt beneath the main nave, and the space draws visitors who come to see the carved marble panels and bronze doors that line the entrance.
The church and cloister are generally open to visitors for a small fee, and the layout is easy to follow on foot. A morning visit tends to work well, as the light enters the nave from the west-facing facade and makes the interior easier to read.
The altarpiece in the apse was painted by Andrea Mantegna around 1459, but the original was taken by Napoleon, and what visitors see today is a reproduction. The three original panels are now split between museums in Paris and Tours.
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