Church of Santa Maria in Organo

The Church of Santa Maria in Organo, located in the Veronetta district of Verona, is an architectural and historical gem whose origins date back to the Lombard era, between the 6th and 7th centuries. The church was destroyed and rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1117, and underwent further transformations over the centuries, especially between the 15th and 16th centuries under the guidance of the Benedictine Olivetan monks to whom it was entrusted in 1444 by Pope Eugene IV. The name of the church, Santa Maria in Organo, has curious origins. Although one of the oldest organs in the Diocese of Verona is preserved inside, the name actually derives from the term “organum,” which in Roman times referred to an irrigation tool. The remains of this ancient instrument can still be found among the foundations of the bell tower.The exterior of the church features an unfinished but fascinating facade, with a lower part in white marble designed by Michele Sanmicheli in the Renaissance and an upper part in Gothic-Romanesque style alternating between terracotta bricks and tuff. The bell tower, also designed by Sanmicheli and completed in 1533, is an extraordinary example of Renaissance architecture, with mullioned windows and a slender dome that make it unique in the Veronese landscape.The interior of the church is equally impressive, with a Latin cross plan that includes a central nave and two side aisles, a raised presbytery, and a slightly raised transept. The church houses a rich pictorial decoration, with frescoes and altarpieces by important Veronese Renaissance artists such as Francesco Caroto, Nicolò Giolfino, Antonio Balestra, Paolo Farinati, Francesco Torbido, and Guercino. The sacristy, in particular, is considered the most beautiful in Italy by Giorgio Vasari, thanks to the extraordinary frescoes by Francesco Morone and the magnificent wooden inlays created by Fra Giovanni da Verona between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. These inlays depict urban landscapes, allegories, still lifes, and common objects with astonishing skill.Under the presbytery is a pre-Romanesque crypt with three naves, cross vaults, and columns with 8th-century capitals. The crypt houses a 14th-century marble altarpiece attributed to Giovanni di Rigino and the famous “Muletta,” a wooden sculpture from the 14th century depicting Jesus entering Jerusalem riding a mule.The history of the church is closely linked to the religious and cultural life of Verona. During the Middle Ages, the church was part of a very influential Benedictine monastery that managed vast properties and enjoyed great prestige. This prominent role continued even under Venetian rule, when the church became an important center of artistic and spiritual activities.