The Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore is best-known for being the very place that Shakespeare’s ill-fated lovers – Romeo and Juliet – got married, but it’s also worthy of a visit on merit of its architecture alone. Crowned by a 23-storey, 12th-century bell tower, the cathedral is an extraordinary example of Romanesque architecture with a dramatic façade and a remarkable set of carved bronze doors to rival even those of Florence’s Baptistery.
Inside the cathedral is a serene haven, adorned with dozens of soaring columns and a series of important frescoes by renowned 13th-century artists. It is the underground crypt however that draws most visitors, and not just for the mesmerising interior of this ‘church within a church’. The crypt was famously featured in Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy Romeo and Juliet, being the venue that the couple said their vows. Today, the church is open to visitors and ranks as one of the city’s most popular points of interest.
Opening hours: Open between 8.30am – 6pm Monday to Saturday (March - October), 12.30 – 6pm Sunday and holidays, 10am – 1pm and 1.30pm – 5pm Monday to Saturday (November - February) and 12.30am – 5pm Sunday and holidays.
Prices: €2.50/ Free for children aged 0 -11. Included in the Verona Card, which costs €6 and allows access to four major churches.
*Prices and opening hours may be subject to change.
