Church of Santa Maria Antica
Santa Maria Antica is a Romanesque Catholic church in the heart of Verona, Italy, whose origins reach back to the Lombard period of the 8th century. The current structure dates to 1185, rebuilt after the earthquake of 1117 destroyed the earlier building, retaining only a fragment of the original black-and-white mosaic floor. The church is also famous as the burial site of the Scaligeri, the medieval lords of Verona, whose monumental Gothic tombs — the Arche Scaligere — rise directly beside its exterior walls.
At a glance
- Type
- Roman Catholic parish church
- Period
- 8th century (origin); rebuilt 1185 after 1117 earthquake
- Style
- Romanesque
- Location
- Via Santa Maria Antica, Verona, Veneto, Italy
- Coordinates
- 45.4435° N, 10.9989° E
- Notable feature
- Adjacent Arche Scaligere — Gothic funerary monuments of the Scaligeri dynasty
Overview
Santa Maria Antica stands in the historic centre of Verona, just steps from Piazza dei Signori, and represents one of the oldest continuously used religious sites in the city. The church is Romanesque in style, characterised by its compact stone facade and the elegant canopied porch over the main portal. Its intimate scale contrasts with the grandeur of the Scaligeri tombs that cluster around its outer walls, creating one of the most evocative medieval ensembles in northern Italy.
History
The church traces its foundation to the end of Lombard rule in Verona, making it one of the oldest Christian buildings in the city. The catastrophic earthquake of 1117, which devastated much of the Po Valley, destroyed the original structure almost entirely; only a fragment of the early black-and-white mosaic floor survived. The rebuilding, completed in 1185, produced the Romanesque church visible today. During the 13th and 14th centuries the Scaligeri family, who rose to become lords of Verona, adopted Santa Maria Antica as their dynastic chapel and burial church, commissioning the elaborate Gothic tomb monuments that now form the Arche Scaligere complex.
What you see
The church exterior displays the characteristic sobriety of northern Italian Romanesque: dressed stone walls, rounded arches, and a projecting canopied porch sheltering the main entrance. A small rose window and blind arcading animate the facade without ornamental excess. The interior is single-naved and austere, preserving the fragment of 8th-century mosaic pavement near the altar area. Immediately outside, the Arche Scaligere — iron-railed Gothic tabernacle tombs on tall pillars — surround the church on three sides, bearing equestrian effigies and carved reliefs of Cangrande I, Mastino II, and Cansignorio della Scala.
Cultural significance
Santa Maria Antica occupies a unique position in Verona’s heritage as both an active parish and the dynastic mausoleum of the Scaligeri, the rulers who made Verona a leading Italian signoria and welcomed Dante Alighieri at their court. The Arche Scaligere are considered among the finest examples of Italian Gothic funerary sculpture. The site is inscribed within Verona’s UNESCO World Heritage status as part of the city’s outstanding universal value.
Practical information
- Address
- Via Santa Maria Antica, 37121 Verona VR, Italy
- Access
- The exterior and Arche Scaligere are freely visible; interior access subject to church opening hours
- Hours
- Check official website or local tourist office for current times
- Admission
- Free (church); combined ticket for Scaligeri monuments may apply
Getting there
Santa Maria Antica is in the historic centre of Verona, a short walk from Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori. From Verona Porta Nuova railway station, take the No. 11 or 12 bus to the city centre, or walk approximately 20 minutes. The historic centre is a ZTL (limited traffic zone); visitors arriving by car should use the Arsenale or Arsenale Sud car parks and walk from there.