The Basilica of Sant’Anastasia is Verona’s largest church and one of the city’s finest Gothic landmarks. Near the Adige River and Ponte Pietra, its unfinished brick façade gives little hint of the scale inside, where painted vaults rise above tall columns and patterned marble floors lead towards a series of richly decorated chapels.
Dominican friars began building the church in 1290, with work continuing for around two centuries. Wealthy Veronese families sponsored chapels and monuments, leaving a collection that reflects the city’s artistic and civic history. The standout is Pisanello’s Saint George and the Princess of Trebizond, an International Gothic fresco above the Pellegrini Chapel. Near the entrance, two crouching stone figures support holy-water stoups; look for the figure known locally as il Gobbo, or the hunchback.
Sant’Anastasia is an easy stop on a walk between Piazza delle Erbe, the Duomo and Ponte Pietra, and its spacious interior offers a quieter contrast to Verona’s busiest attractions. Allow around 45 minutes to explore the chapels. Tourist entry usually requires a ticket, and hours can change on Sundays and religious holidays, so check ahead. It remains an active church: dress respectfully and keep voices low, especially during services.