PARISHES AND CHURCHES – PARISHES AT LAKE GARDA
Bardolino
San Severo
One of the biggest masterpieces of roman art can be found in Bardolino along the Gardesana road. The church dates back to the 11th century and stands on the foundation walls of an older construction from 893, as we can see from the antique crypt. When you enter the parish church you are surrounded by the intimate and spiritual atmosphere of roman churches, and also rather absent-minded visitors will forget about the noises coming from the frequented Gardesana Road, from Lake Garda and the passing cars. The inside features a fresco cycle dating back to the 11th and 12th century. The colours of the frescoes are still very lively. The Birth of Christ, the apocalypse, and the history of the true crucifix is presented. The large cross on the altar triggers strong emotions too. The roman church tower still contains works from the High Middle Ages.
San Zeno Church
The church from the Carolingian High Middle Ages with a small court dates back to the end of the 9th century as a chapel of the San Zeno Convent in Verona. According to some documents the church even dates back to 807. The church has a floor plan with a Latin cross and a small nave. Amongst the most renowned frescoes we can mention "San Pietro", the "Virgin Mary" and the evangelist Luca.
San Giorgio Hermitage San Giorgio Oratory
The panoramic hermitage is located directly at the tip of Lake Garda on the San Giorgio hill in the community of Bardolino. This is a wonderful viewpoint. On the ruins of the former oratory you can now admire a chapel with a long nave and three side chapels with beautiful altar screen, one of which comes from Venetian School and represents San Giorgio with a dragon.
San Vito Church
Starting at the hermitage in the direction of Bardolino and crossing the Cortelline road you reach this church dating back to the High Middle Ages. The church was devoted to San Vito. The bell tower was renovated during Romanesque times.
Lazise
Roman Church of San Nicolò
The church was devoted to the patron saints of water and looks over the picturesque harbour in the centre of Lazise. The walls still feature parts of frescoes from Venetian School dating back to the 14th century. The outer north façade features a fresco dating back to the 13th century representing the Madonna with the child Enthroned.
Cisano
Parish church of Santa Maria di Cisano
The roman parish church Santa Maria is located on the state road in the direction of Lazise approximately 3 km south of Bardolino. Inside you can admire Carolingian relieves and part of a local calendar. The transennas of the facade, the portal and balcony with a 16th century fresco of the crowned Virgin Mary, the semicircular apse and the lower section of the bell tower are still preserved from the period. The apse is also typical of Roman art in Verona. Inside the church you find an altar dating back to the 16th century representing the Immaculate Conception and a Madonna.
Caprino hamlet of Ceredello
Santa Cristina Church
The church is located on a secluded hill in Caprino and features frescoes dating back to the 14th century. The church dates back to the 8th century, when a traditional market and a church were already present. During the plague in 1630, the church was turnedinto a base hospital. Following, the church had to be disinfected several times, whereby the inside walls and unfortunately also the frescoes dating back to the 14th century were covered and faded. Large parts of the original frescoes dating back to 1300 came to light at the end of the 19th century. Today, the inhabitants of Ceredello pray in this church and celebrate the anniversary of the patron saint on the 24th of July with a religious festival and a traditional folk festival.
Castion
San Verulo Church
Romanic church dating back to the 14th century.
Affi
Roman Church of San Bartolomeo
It is assumed, that this church dates back to the 14th century. The really interesting frescoes inside the church have been recently restored. The frescoes show different eras of art. The frescoes show images of a Saint who died skinned (an image of the long knife blade penetrating his body). He is the patron saint of butchers and is connected to the image of pigs. On the left wall you can see a beautiful image of the Last Supper, where instead of a fish, a little piglet can be seen on the plate in front of Jesus. On the 24th of August Affi celebrates the festival of pigs (porséi). The image of Virgin Mary with the child on the entry door is also beautiful. This image came to light only recently during the course of the last restoration works. Also precious is the Madonna on the throne with the child.
Interesting: Sayings
"A San Bartolomio, ogni fruto l'è compio": Every fruit is mature.
"de San Bartolomio le rondene va con Dio" The swallows migrate at the end of summer.
Brenzone
Guided excursions – on foot or by bus – to the medieval churches of Brenzone are organised every Wednesday from June to September.
Information and registration: IAT - Pro Loco "Per Brenzone".
I.A.T. Tourist Office PRO LOCO "PER BRENZONE"
Via Zanardelli, 38
I - 37010 Porto di Brenzone (VR)
Tel. and Fax +39 045 7420076
www.brenzone.it - info@brenzone.it
Biasa
Sant'Antonio Church
The origins of the church of Sant'Antonio Abate are not known for sure. When observing the frescoes inside the church, it could be assumed, that the church dates back to the second half of the 14th century. The façade stands on a brink. The noble Brenzone family chose the church for the protection of their family tomb. Today, you can still see their names, which remind you of the destroyed death memorial.
Castelletto
Church Sanzen de l'Oselét
A masterpiece of roman art from ancient times with interesting frescoes. One picture cycle has been restored only recently. The church was probably built on the ruins of an ancient pagan temple. Today's construction features roman shapes and dates back to the 11th – 12th and 13th century. On the walls of the minor nave we can observe late-roman frescoes of Byzantine origin.
Assenza
San Nicola Church
The church was devoted to the patron saint of flooding. It was mentioned for the first time during the 12th century. The inside consists of two gothic arcs dating back to the 15th century, and from only one nave. A small side entry dating back to Romanesque can be found on the northern side. The door leads to a small cemetery. The roof of the nave is characterised by an open ceiling, while the choir is covered by a gothic double vault. The inside walls feature interesting frescoes probably dating back to the end of the 13th and 14th century.
Campo
San Pietro Church
The church was built in the rural-roman style with a semicircular apse and a simple façade looking west as it was typical even later than the14th century. The façade was completely renovated in the 18th century.
The simple interior with one nave is characterised by the already mentioned wall paintings on the side walls and the apse.
Malcesine - Cassone
Chapel of the Saints Benigno and Caro
Benigno was a holy hermit who lived here together with the holy hermit Caro between the 8th and the 9th century. The story goes, that King Pipino, sun of Charlemagne, once visited them in their hermitage. According to the legend Pipino ordered them to transfer the mortal remains of San Zeno to the church devoted to him. However, the body seemed to be nailed to the soil and nobody was able to move it. Only the two holy hermits were able to lift the body without problems. During their journey to Verona they were accompanied by the devil in the appearance of a blackbird that put them to an acid test. Today, Malcesine still celebrates the transfer of the holy body with a feast called "El trasport". One week later the same festival is on in Casson.
Amongst the various miracles the miracle of beet is remembered. After the two hermits were accused of living together with a woman, who was looking after them, the deacon called on them to speak up in front of him and a miracle happened. They were able to seed the beet in the evening, and in the morning they had grown big and had multiplied.
Interesting: "Do you think this is the beet of Holy Benigno?"
This is a local saying used if somebody wants to have a job done quickly and good.
PARISHES OF VALPOLICELLA
Longobard-Roman parish church of S. Giorgio Valpolicella
The ancient roman parish church dates back to 712 A. D. and is located on the characteristic small village square of the hamlet S. Giorgio Valpolicella or Ingannapoltron. The church might have been built on the ruins of a pagan temple, which had been constructed by the Arusnati. Inside you can admire an ancient tabernacle built by Maestro Orso and his followers during the 6th century, as well as frescoes dating back to the 7th and 8th century. Adjacent to the church you can see the preserved cloister dating back to the 12th century, and a small museum with numerous pre-historic findings from the Ice Age, which were discovered only recently during excavation works in the area.
In addition to the archaeological area, the museum of San Giorgio also features an ethnographic area, where you can see a building typical of Valpolicella from the last few centuries.
S. Floriano Parish Church
The church was first mentioned in a document in 905. The church of San Floriano was probably built on the foundation walls of an older longobard church. This had been the most important parish church of the area with jurisdiction for centuries. The structure with three naves tells many stories from roman architecture, and features a beautiful façade. Also the longobard components, which can be found everywhere on the church walls, are of great interest. On the northern side adjacent to the church you can admire an imposing church tower with a square shape. The lower part of the church tower consists of stones, the upper part features alternating trass and cotto stones.
San Pietro Parish Church
The church in Arbizzano has been devoted to San Pietro and is very old. The roman church (6th century) was built on the remains of a primitive Christian temple (probably dating back to the 5th century a.C.) Today, the wonderful entry door and the white marble plates with an image of the crucifixion are still preserved. The building adjacent to the church is also Romanesque. Today's church dates back to the end of the 17th century and contains interesting pieces of art: A wooden relic of Tuscan origin dating back to the 14th century and which has been recently restored, a baptismal font dating back to the 14th century, and a large painting dating back to the 17th century. The sculptures dating back to the 18th century on the inside and outside are of great interest.
San Martino Church in Negrar
The church was first mentioned in a document in 1067. The ancient church was probably destroyed by an earthquake in 1117 and nothing has been preserved. The then built roman church featured a beautiful church tower from trass stones. To the south, the church tower shows an inscription in Latin language. This is the so-called "carta lapidaria". It contains several contracts that were entered into with the parish in Negrar. The inscription dates back to 1166. Several interesting paintings dating back to the 17th and 18th century are still preserved inside the church. The current building was almost completely rebuilt at the beginning of the 19th century.
San Michele Church in Arcè
The church is located at an isolated spot on the eastern edge of the village and surrounded by a wall. The church was first mentioned in a document in 1154. The construction has only one nave and dates back to at least two different construction phases (11th - 12th century and middle of the 16th century).
well visible on the facade and at the sides, and only in part in the small apse. The structure features pebbles arranged in a herringbone shape. This structure can be often seen in the oldest roman churches in the areas surrounding Verona. The wall paintings are not very resistant. What has been preserved is however of great interest. The most important frescoes are located at the opening of the apse, and can be attributed to the circle of artists around Altichiero da Zevio and around Guariento.
PARISHES OF LESSINIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo – town of Fosse
Parish of San Giovanni in Loffa
Shortly after Sant'Anna in the direction of Fosse, an asphalt road leads to the Pineta del Monte Loffa and to the church of San Giovanni in Loffa. The church was built in roman style in the 12th century. It features a simple façade and a rectangular floor plan and three altars. The church tower has a rectangular shape, is made of stone and features 4 clocks.
San Mauro di Saline – Church of San Leonardo at Monte San Moro.
Building in roman style with hut-shaped façade and a rosette at the centre. The church dates back to 1388 and is located on the San Moro Mountain. At the start, the San Mauro Church was devoted to the 27th bishop of Verona; later on it was devoted to San Leonardo di Limoges. The church was constructed in roman style. It features three naves and a rectangular apse. Four clocks can be seen on the square church tower. Inside the entry door you can admire a fresco dating back to the 14th century representing the Madonna with the child and San Leonardo. San Leonardo is the patron saint of prisoners, blacksmiths, carters, pilgrims, and healer of pets. Within the framework of the folks festival in San Leonardo in September, the returning home of the cattle from the pastures is also celebrated. Until some decades ago, an animal fair took place. Today, an animal market with an exhibition of local agricultural products takes place.
PARISHES OF "EAST VERONESE"
ALBAREDO D'ADIGE
SANTA MARIA
In ancient documents Albaredo was referred to as a baptistery. It has been mentioned as parish since the 13th century.
ARCOLE
DELL'ALZANA CHURCH
Pilgrimage chapel and farmer's memorial. The church dates back to 1150. Not far from the church and the park you can visit a small museum showing agricultural tools and local professions. The entire church was rebuilt between 1986 and 1988.
BADIA CALAVENA
CONVENT OF THE SAINTS PIETRO AND VITO
The Benedictine abbey was built on the hill of San Pietro (675 m) between 1037 and 1052 as requested by bishop Walterio of Verona. The convent is located above the ruins of an ancient castle, which was constructed for the protection of its inhabitants, and was destroyed by the earthquake in 1117.
CAZZANO DI TRAMIGNA
SAN FELICE
The church dates back to the 9th – 10th century. It was built along the road to the Tramigna Valley. Gravestones with gothic inscriptions and skeletons have been found. The apse dates back to 1400, while the fresco with the crucifix is know all the way to Dalmatia.
SAN PIETRO IN BRIANO
The church stands on a hill. The church dates back to the 14th century. This is a small chapel with one nave and one apse. The church was restored after war. Inside you can admire frescoes, which have only recently been restored.
On the outside you see the crucifixion, a Madonna and some saints.
PARISH OF COLOGNOLA AI COLLI
Church Santa Maria della Pieve
The church dates back to the 11th century. The first anthropological traces go back 5,000 years. The church was built on the ruins of a pagan temple: it was a cult site to the God Mercury. In the year 1000 it was converted into a roman church devoted to Saint Mary. The church holds frescoes dating back to the 14th and 15th century and a representation of the wooden crucifix Volto Santo di Luca. This medieval icon was very popular amongst pilgrims who travelled from Rome to Venice on a ship in order to leave for Jerusalem (the roman road Postumia lead to the harbour in Venice.
It has the nickname of "delle seole" (of the onions). It dates back to the 17th century and has one nave.
SANTA GIUSTINA
Built in 1100. A simple roman church with an impressive bell tower.
MONTECCHIA DI CROSARA
SAN SALVATORE CHURCH
Located near the cemetery. An old legend goes: the property of the seigniors extended all over Vicenza and its provinces. His ancestors were Longobards and his descendants, the Maltraversi, were in power until 1200.
RONCO ALL'ADIGE
OLD CHURCH OF RONCO
PARISH OF SCARDEVARA
This is a work of the Black Monks. The varied architecture and the materials used give proof of the age of this church. Three apsides have been preserved. The main altar was consecrated in 1490, and in 1612 the church became a parish church.
PARISH OF TOMBAZOSANA
Constructed from 813 to 920. The church features longobard art. One of the oldest churches in the entire Verona diocese. This cult site was destroyed by an earthquake in 1117. During the course of the rebuilding the rooms and materials were newly defined. The church was rebuilt in 1855. In 1863 the old church was knocked down.
SAN GIOVANNI ILARIONE
SAN ZENO
Dates back to the 12th century. The church has never been a parish church. The construction stretches back over many years. The altar was added in 1600. The complete reconstruction started in March of 1978, and was completed in 1981. Today, the church consists of various materials: white stone, bricks and black stone. Two architectonic components make this church something special: the ancient nave with bell tower and the apse.
SOAVE
SAN GIORGIO
century. The church corroded and was rebuilt in 1987 and opened to the public. After months of restoration works, since 2004 the church can be admired in his original beauty.
CASTLE CHURCH
The main court of Soave Castle contains the remains of a church with three apsides from medieval times. The church is part of the first fortress of Soave.
BASSANELLA PILGRIMAGE CHURCH
During the plague in 1090 the shepherds in the Ponsara Valley prayed in front of a Madonna image, and begged her to save their families. The holy building was constructed in 1836. The image of the Madonna was inserted into the niche on the 25th of March 1837.
TREGNAGO
CHIESA DELLA DISCIPLINA
The Chiesa della Disciplina (Church of Discipline) is located only a few steps from the parish church of the village. The church was constructed in a simple way with only one nave in 1200. Thanks to recent restoration works, we can admire frescoes from the 14th century, a bas-relief made of white marble, and frescoes of Golfino (painter from Verona in the 16th century), as well as a pillar from Brusasorci.
VESTENANOVA
PARISH CHURCH of SANT'ANTONIO ABATE
The church originally dates back to the 12th century and was extended at a later stage. Today, this church is still one of the most important sites in Vestananova. Precious frescoes came to light during the course of the restoration works: Four rosettes represent the evangelist; two represent Sant'Antonio Abate, one dating back to 1600 and one dating back to 1400. Upon request from Baldo Balsemino, a big stone cross was erected in front of the entry door to show the religiosity of the people from this region.
ROMAN PARISHES OF THE PLAIN UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The churches from the Verona plain like the churches in Verona, were also destroyed by the earthquake in 1117. This is why regional available materials from the times of the Romans and Langobards have been used for the construction of the churches. Even though the churches have a simpler appearance, their importance did not diminish.
Isola della Scala, Chiesa della Bastia
The church is located secluded on an island. The church dates back to 1126 and is the oldest testimonial of the village. The apse shows the use of bricks from roman times. Inside we can admire frescoes from the 15th century.
Erb, roman church Santa Maria Novella dell'Erbedello
The church was once in the possession of the convent of San Zeno. It is located in the surroundings of the Tione River. The entire interior is decorated with frescoes. The paintings cover a period from the 8th to the 15th century.
Gazzo Veronese, church of Santa Maria Maggiore
The ancient construction, from which only part of the floor has been preserved, dates back to the 8th and 9th century. After the earthquake, materials from roman times were used for the new construction.
San Zeno Church, Cerea
The church was built upon the request of Matilde di Canossa. This is a typical example of a roman construction. The frescoes date back to the 8th century.
San Giovanni Battista Parish Church in Campagna, Bovolone-Concamarise Road
The church is better known as San Zuan Church and probably dates back to the 8th century. An octagonal baptistery with frescoes dating back to the 6th century representing the life of San Giovanni and the Passion of Christ is located in front of the church.
