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Sant'Anastasia, San Pietro Martire and the duomo
Sant'Anastasia is the biggest church in Verona, its construction began in 1290 (by the Dominicans) and finished in 1481. This church was constructed over an old church dedicated to Saint Anastasia. This imposing Gothic building is the largest in Verona. It is completely made of bricks, and has three naves with transepts and five polygonal apses. It was founded by the Dominicans in 1290 on the site of an Arian convent and church. It was finally completed in 1481. A twin portal opens on the incomplete facade. The portal is made of polychrome marble and includes some renaissance reliefs. The architrave is decorated with sculptures representing the life of Christ, these are flanked by niches containing statues of Saint Chiara and Saint Anastasia.
The interior is majestic and sumptuous: the furnishings and decorations are rich. The flooring is made of multi-colored marble and dates back to 1462: it was made by Pietro da Porlezza's workshop. To the right of the altar there is an extremely high arch. It used to be decorated by the fresco of "Saint George leaving to save the princess from the dragon", this is now conserved in the Giusti Chapel in front of the vestry. It was painted by Pisanello and epitomizes Verona's international gothic style. You should see the Cortesia Serego's large tomb, attributed to Nanni di Bartolo and dating back to the first half of the 15th century. The altar pieces with paintings of Saint Martino by Francesco Caroto (16th century) and the Annunciation by Michele Giambono are also worth seeing. Open: 7:25a-6:30p M-Su Services: 7:25a, 6:30p Monday-Friday, 6:30p Saturday, 9a, 11a, 12:10p, 6:30p Sunday.
To the left of Sant'Anastasia's facade is an eye-catching tomb, the free-standing monument to Guglielmo di Castelbarco (1320) by Enrico di Rigino. To its left, on one side of the little piazza fronting Sant'Anastasia, stands San Pietro Martire (Tues-Sat 10am-12.30pm & 4-7.30pm), deconsecrated since its ransacking by Napoleon. Numerous patches of fresco dot the walls, making for an atmospheric interior, though the highlight is the vast lunette fresco on the east wall. Easily the strangest picture in Verona, it is thought to be an allegorical account of the Virgin's Assumption, though the bizarre collection of animals appears to have little connection with a bemused-looking Madonna.
Verona's red-and-white-striped Duomo (Open: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 1.30-6pm) lies just round the river's bend, past the Roman Ponte Pietra. Consecrated in 1187, it's Romanesque in its lower parts, developing into Gothic as it goes up; the two doorways are twelfth century - look for the story of Jonah and the whale on the south porch, and the statues of Roland and Oliver, two of Charlemagne's paladins, on the west. The interior has fascinating architectural details around each chapel and on the columns - particularly fine is the Cappella Mazzanti (last on the right). In the first chapel on the left, an Assumption by Titian occupies an architectural frame by Sansovino, who also designed the choir.
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