Sant'Elena, Romanesque church in Verona, Italy
Sant'Elena is a Romanesque church in Verona with three wide aisles supported by twelve massive columns of red marble. The interior shows a mix of Romanesque and Gothic elements with Renaissance changes added over several centuries.
Construction began in the late 13th century, led by two Dominican friars who set the architectural vision for the building. The church continued to develop over the next 200 years, with Gothic and Renaissance elements added later.
The name refers to Saint Helena, who according to tradition discovered the cross of Jesus. Visitors can see artworks inside that show scenes from the Bible and the lives of saints.
The church is located near Verona's cathedral square and is easy to reach on foot when exploring the old town's medieval streets. The interior offers enough space to walk around and view the details on the walls and columns.
Beneath the church, remains of two early Christian basilicas from the 4th century were discovered, some with mosaic floors still intact. These archaeological finds show that the site was holy since the earliest days of Christianity.
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