The Verona Cathedral complex comprises the Cathedral, St. Elena’s canonical church, the Baptistery of St. Giovanni in Fonte and the Canons’ Cloister.
In Roman times, the Cathedral area was characterized by private villas with thermal baths, and a small temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva.
The first diocese cathedral was built on this site during the fourth century, at the behest of the then bishop, St. Zeno.
With the spread of Christianity, this first early Christian basilica became too small and it was necessary to build a second, larger basilica, which remained active until the seventh century.
Today, traces of these early Christian constructions can be found in the mosaics and the archaeological excavations in St. Elena’s Church, as well as in the Canons’ Cloister.
The Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, or the Assumption of Mary, now occupies a position farther south than the early Christian basilicas. It was built on the original site of the Carolingian complex, Santa Maria Matricolare, which was destroyed by the earthquake of 1117 A.D.
In the mid-sixteenth century, Michele Sanmicheli designed the bell tower, which was taken on by architect, Ettore Fagiuoli, in 1914.
To this day it remains unfinished.
