Church of the Holy Nazaro and Celso

The wonderful church dedicated to the saints Nazaro and Celso, in the district of Veronetta, has a long and turbulent history. The building stands on top of more ancient  constructions of a benedectine monastery of the 6th century and of a palaeolithic christian church in a cavern dug in the above hill.

The so called Grotto of San Nazaro, whose remains we can still nowadays admire, goes back to the dawn of Christianity, when it was probably used for graves and martyrs' cult. This small grotto lost importance when the Benedectines built nearby a real Romanesque church, consecrated in 1031.

In 1464 the Romanesque church was demolished and the present one started to be built, opened to worship in 1483. From further works in 15th century we have the present church with three naves and the beautiful chapel of San Biagio whose relics are preserved.

In 1767 the monastery was suppressed by decree of the Venetian Senate, but the monastic life never stopped. The building was bought by the Benedectine Nuns who did several renovation works. Later, in 1810 when the religious orders were suppressed by order of Napoleon, the monastery was partly demolished and partly sold.

The present entrance which is preceeded by a monumental marble and tuff portal, was designed in the 1600s by the Veronese architect Antonio Saletti.

The facade is by bricks, very simple, and it is distinguished by a wheel window at the center and a gothic portal with the typical pointed arch with a lunette in which we can see  a fresco depicting  Madonna with Saints Nazaro and Celso. The 16th century's bell tower clearly in Venetian style, has one of the most precious bells choir in the Country.

The inside of the church is characterized by three naves and three apses. Along the side walls there is a set of chapels decorated by the best artists of the 1500s and 1600s like Francesco Morone, Antonio Badile, Paolo Farinati, Palma il Giovane and Brusasorzi.