Church of San Giorgio in Braida

The Church of San Giorgio in Braida, located in the Veronetta district of Verona, is a masterpiece of architecture and art that reflects centuries of history and devotion. Its foundation dates back to 1046, when the Veronese nobleman Pietro Cadalo, future bishop of Parma and antipope, decided to build a Benedictine monastery dedicated to San Giorgio. This first monastic complex underwent various vicissitudes, including a period of economic and spiritual prosperity between the 12th and 13th centuries and a devastating earthquake in 1117, which required extensive reconstructions. The current structure of the church is the result of a complete Renaissance-style renovation that began in 1441, when the monastery passed to the congregation of San Giorgio in Alga. The facade, built in white marble with Baroque elements, is divided into two architectural orders: the lower level, from the 16th century, is decorated with Ionic columns, while the upper level, from the following century, features Corinthian columns. In the side niches are the statues of San Giorgio and San Lorenzo Giustiniani. The interior of the church, completed between 1536 and 1543, is a single nave with four chapels on each side, culminating in an apse containing the presbytery. One of the most remarkable elements is the large dome designed by the Veronese architect Michele Sanmicheli, which with its diameter of 14 meters and the oculus located 34 meters from the floor, gives grandeur to the structure. The Romanesque bell tower, built in the 12th century, remains as a testimony to the medieval origins of the complex. San Giorgio in Braida is also renowned for its collection of artworks. Above the main door, visitors can admire Tintoretto’s “Baptism of Christ.” In the apse is the “Martyrdom of San Giorgio,” a masterpiece by Paolo Veronese dated 1564, considered one of the most beautiful and significant works preserved in Verona. Among other works, stand out the canvases by Paolo Farinati and Domenico Brusasorzi, including “The Multiplication of the Loaves” and “The Manna in the Desert.” Over the centuries, the church has undergone various transformations and has experienced periods of decline and rebirth. After the suppression of the congregation of San Giorgio in Alga in 1669, the monastery was sold to the nuns of Santa Maria di Reggio to finance the war of Candia. With the closure of the convent in 1807, the church became an oratory dependent on the Church of Santo Stefano. Only in 1874, San Giorgio in Braida regained its parish dignity thanks to a decision of the Holy See. From an artistic point of view, in addition to the aforementioned works by Tintoretto and Veronese, the church houses works by artists such as Giovan Francesco Caroto, Felice Brusasorzi, Pasquale Ottino, Girolamo dai Libri, Sigismondo de Stefani, and Francesco Montemezzano. These works further enrich the artistic heritage of the church, making it an essential stop for art enthusiasts and tourists visiting Verona.