Santa Anastasia, the church overlooking the Adige
A saint of water and river
According to tradition, Saint Anastasia is a water saint, of the river. A martyr of the third century, she is remembered for her work in assisting persecuted Christians and prisoners.
The Roman prefect condemned her and abandoned her to drift on a ship with a group of Christians.
In Verona, the church dedicated to her stands at the end of the decumanus maximus, with the apses facing the Adige River. The façade is unfinished, while the entrance portal, made of white, pink and gray marble, comes from nearby quarries.
Inside the church
The interior of Santa Anastasia is spectacular, completely frescoed and embellished with columns and floors in Veronese marble.
Its majesty reflects the huge flows of the faithful that the Dominican church welcomed during the main religious holidays, such as Lent and Easter.
Particularly striking are the two famous holy water fonts, known as "i gobbi", which support the holy water basins.
The Pisanello Chapel
This chapel is almost hidden, located at the top right of the main altar.
The fresco depicts the moment when St. George prepares to mount his horse to face the dragon, while the princess stands before him.
Although the work is now fragmentary, the remaining fragments reveal a very rich decoration, created between 1433 and 1438 by Pisanello for the Pellegrini family.
The episode is taken from The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Varagine, a collection of saints' lives written in the 13th century.
The high altar and the funeral monument of Cortesia Serego
The main altar houses the funerary monument of Cortesia Serego, a masterpiece that combines painting, sculpture and architecture.
But who was Cortesia Serego?
It was the Captain of Antonio della Scala, a member of the powerful family that ruled Verona. Santa Anastasia was the church of the Scaliger elite, the families that gravitated around the court.
Discover Santa Anastasia on a guided tour
These are just some of the wonders housed in the Church of Santa Anastasia.
To discover the rest with a guided tour, contact me!
info@guideverona.net
+39 3398875599
