Church of San Giorgio, 13th-century church in Varenna, Italy

The Church of San Giorgio in Varenna has a gabled facade that reveals a three-nave interior, the central nave higher than the side aisles. The rectangular plan lacks a transept; two rows of three circular pillars on square bases support the central vaults, while the side aisles have hanging vaults on cone-shaped corbels. A large circular oculus with a glass window opens at the center of the facade, and to the right of the main door is a fresco of Saint Christopher, protector of ferrymen.

The church was built between 1250 and 1313 to serve the religious needs of Varenna residents and received its consecration in 1313. The bell tower and altar were added later, reflecting how the building evolved over time.

The church keeps 13th-century frescoes on its columns: a bishop saint, identified as Gregory the Great, faces a crowned queen, Theodelinda, venerated locally because tradition holds she chose the Castle of Vezio above Varenna as her last residence. On the counter-facade, a 15th-century Last Judgment shows a huge Beelzebub devouring the souls of the damned.

The visit allows you to discover the different areas of the church and its architectural features at your own pace. It is worth taking time to look carefully at the artworks and details on the walls and altars.

The late-15th-century polyptych now on the high altar survives as thirteen wooden panels; two more, showing Saints Lucy and Anthony, were stolen in 1977. Its central panel shows the Madonna enthroned with the Child and music-making angels, and the side panels carry saints including George, the church's patron.