Verona - Basilica di San Zeno

Already Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths, may have funded a church, erected over the tomb of Saint Zeno, who, following the legends, was born in Mauretania and died around 380 in Verona.

The erection of the present church began in the 9th century. Soon after San Zeno´s relics were translated into the new church. At that time Charlemagne´s son Pepin (aka "Pepin of Italy") resided in Verona and a large Benedictine monastery grew all around the church.

When the Magyars invaded Italy in the early 10th century, the church got severely damaged, but the relics were not harmed, as they had been taken out and were hidden. In 967, a new church was built with the patronage of Otto I.

On January 3, 1117, the church was damaged by an earthquake, that ruined so many buildings in Northern Italy. The church was restored and got enlarged in 1138.

It may well be, that soon after panels of a bronze door from another (destroyed?, damaged?) church were transferred to San Zeno - and so got reused here. Today the famous bronze door consists out of two panels on which the plates are fixed. The older ones (~ 1100) are often compared with the bronze works in Hildesheim, and Saxon Masters may have worked here. The younger ones (1200) are "smoother" and some scholars connect them to Benedetto Antelami, who worked in Parma 1178 ("Deposition").

Unfortunately the room is so small, that I was unable to take an "overview", so I could only take photos of panels and details.

Matilda of Canossa (aka "Matilda of Tuscany"), also callled "called la Gran Contessa" was not only a powerful ruler and a supporter of Pope Gregory VII during the Investiture Controversy, she as well was a strong supporter of the Benedictian monastery to which the basilica belonged. It is said, that she is depicted here, but I did not find her. Maybe this crowned person to the right is - Matilda.