Santa Maria Antica, Romanesque church in Verona, Italy
Santa Maria Antica is a Romanesque church in Verona with red marble columns supporting rounded arches and a square bell tower featuring alternating bands of brick and stone. The building stands beside the family burial ground of the Della Scala and preserves remains from earlier periods beneath its current floor.
The building was constructed in the 8th century but an earthquake in 1117 destroyed the original structure, leading to its reconstruction. The consecration by the Patriarch of Aquileia in 1185 marked when the structure achieved its current basic form.
The church functioned as a private chapel for the Della Scala family, who shaped Verona's religious and political life. Today, you can sense the close relationship between this building and the family's power through its intimate setting adjacent to their residence.
The entrance is located on Via Arche Scaligere 3, directly next to Piazza dei Signori and easy to find. Plan your visit during religious celebrations when the church is actively used for worship.
Beneath the current floor lie the remains of a black and white checkered mosaic from the 8th century. Archaeological finds show that about 50 graves from the 11th century are preserved here, telling the layers of the city's past.
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