I arrived in Verona, Italy in the late morning hours.  My hotel room was not yet ready.  I left my luggage with the hotel staff and started exploring Verona.  Of course, I had a list of places to see.  At the top of my list were the four main churches in Verona.  I received a Senior Discount Pass for all four churches and started my visit at the Basilica of San Zeno.

I have to say that out of all the churches I have seen so far on this trip, Verona had the best basilicas.  They were just spectacular with so much art and history.

San Zeno was of African origin and the eighth bishop of Verona from 362-380.  To accommodate the large masses of people visiting the small church built on the grave site of San Zeno, the new basilica was built between 805 and 806.  This new structure included housing for a community of Benedictine monks.  This new basilica was consecrated on December 8, 806.  The original basilica was destroyed during military invasions and rebuilt in 963. 

In each church I visited, the Blessed Sacrament was made known by the red candle lit next to the tabernacle.  In this basilica, the tabernacle was part of a side altar in the front of the church next to the main altar. 

The main altar in this basilica displayed a six-panel work of art depicting the life of Jesus and Mary.

The Cathedral Complex was my next stop on my self-guided tour of the churches in Verona.  This complex consisted of a cathedral, an ancient church with archeological findings, and a baptistery.

Before entering the Cathedral, I visited the baptistery.  This was the first time I ever was in a baptistery. It was a beautiful part of the church that had its own point of entry. 

This is our Christian history. 

It is difficult to fathom what Christians went through during these times.  I am grateful for the opportunity to explore our history and to see the beauty created because of the love and devotion for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As I entered the cathedral, I was once again taken back by the beauty all around me. 

These basilicas and cathedrals were built prior to the invention of the printing press.  The average person during these times did not read or write.  Yet Christianity was important and needed to be known by everyone.  The beautiful frescoes, paintings, and statues tell a story and leave an impression on the hearts and minds of those who study them in the same way a good book does for each of us today.  I can see the stories of the Old and New Testaments in the artwork throughout these beautiful churches.

As I walked to the next basilica, I noticed a gold plaque on the sidewalk outside a doorway.  I knew what this was.  I saw this for the first time on an earlier trip in France. 

This is truly a reminder that we live in a fallen world.  Amid the beautiful Catholic basilicas and cathedrals, we see how humanity has failed.  I couldn’t help but stop and say a prayer for Gilda and her family and to whisper an apology for the craziness of this life.

Before long, I was at the third basilica of Verona – the Basilica of Saint Anastasia.

Here are more beautiful photos of the Basilica of Saint Anastasia.

The next church visited in Verona was the Church of Saint Fermo.

Tradition tells us that in 304, Saint Fermo and Saint Rustico were martyred for their faith.  The relics of these martyrs are housed in this church.  The original church was rebuilt by the Benedictines in 1065 to 1143.  The Franciscans replaced the Benedictines in 1261 and completed construction to many parts of the church.  The Franciscans left the church in 1807 following Napoleon’s occupation.  The church then became a parish site entrusted to the diocese.

I walked another seven miles in Verona and was on the hunt for gelato.  In doing so, I found the Piazza Erbe – a beautiful market area with lots of souvenirs, food opportunities, and GELATO! 

Oh, Happy Day!

The next blog will feature more fun in Verona, Italy. Stay tuned!

Use the Amazon buttons below to order your copy of my latest books. Don’t forget to leave a review on Amazon! Thank you and Happy Reading to ALL…..

For my favorite books by other authors - click here.

God Bless and Remember - Sharing is Caring!