The largest and most solemn Catholic church in Verona’s historic centre, the Basilica di Santa Anastasia is also the city’s most important Gothic monument. The church retains the name of a small church from the Longobard era dedicated to the 4th century martyr Anastasia, where the Dominican order settled around 1290. The construction of the Gothic basilica, dedicated to St. Peter the Martyr, patron saint of Verona together with St. Zeno, was made possible thanks to the contribution of the Scaligeri family who ruled Verona from the end of the 13th to the end of the 14th century.
The unfinished façade features a magnificent double portal with polychrome marble, reliefs and frescoes. Inside, the basilica with Latin cross plan has three large naves supported by 12 imposing columns of red Verona marble. Five chapels open onto the transept, one of which houses the Pisanello’s famous fresco “St George and the Princess”.