Duomo di Verona

The Duomo di Verona, or Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare, stands on Piazza Duomo in the northern part of Verona's historic centre, in the Veneto region of Italy. The Romanesque cathedral was consecrated in 1187 and replaced earlier Christian buildings on the site, the remains of which can be seen nearby, including the early Christian basilica of Sant'Elena and archaeological remains in the adjoining complex. The facade is notable for the marble portal carved by Master Nicolo in the twelfth century, with figures of the paladins Roland and Oliver from the Charlemagne legends and scenes of the Nativity. Inside, the church was altered in the Gothic period, producing a tall nave with red and white marble columns. Among its artworks is Titian's Assumption of the Virgin, placed in the first chapel on the left, as well as frescoes and the marble choir screen designed by Michele Sanmicheli in the sixteenth century. The cathedral complex also includes the cloister and the Biblioteca Capitolare, regarded as one of the oldest libraries in the world, with manuscripts from late antiquity and the medieval period. The church is both an active place of worship and a monument, and the sequence of visit runs from the facade through the nave and side chapels to the baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte and the Sant'Elena remains. Restoration campaigns over the centuries have repaired the stonework, sculpture and paintings. The site is part of the Chiese Verona circuit, which offers a combined ticket for several churches. Visitors are expected to dress modestly and to avoid disturbing services. The Duomo is near Ponte Pietra and the Roman Theatre, so it can be combined with the Veronetta side of the river in a single walking route.