Description of the attraction
The Catholic Church of Santa Maria in Organo, built by Benedictine monks in the 7-8 centuries during the reign of the Ostrogoths and Lombards in Italy, is located in Verona. It was built as a Romanesque basilica, but numerous reconstructions of the 12-14 centuries gave it a Gothic character. In 1533, a bell tower with 6 bells was built nearby, and at the end of the 16th century, the architect Michele Sanmicheli rebuilt the Gothic facade in the classical style - he added three white marble portals, but retained the upper part of the facade with its tuff and brick masonry. Once standing next to the church, the monastery was completely destroyed during the Napoleonic wars.
Inside, the church of Santa Maria in Organo has a central nave, two side chapels, a presbytery and a crypt, which has retained its medieval Romanesque appearance. On the walls of the church you can see frescoes by Nicolo Giolfino and Francesco Caroto, as well as altar paintings by Domenico and Francesco Morone and Giovanni Pittoni. In the 15th century, Fra Giovanni da Verona, an outstanding painter, inlay master and great visionary, carved wooden choirs and stasidia chairs for the sacristy. He also decorated them with landscapes and still lifes. By the way, Fra Giovanni da Verona was also the author of the project of the church bell tower. And today the bell ringers learn their skills on her 6 bronze bells, performing "Campane alla Veronese".
From the 14th century until 1756, Santa Maria in Organo was a parish church and belonged to the Aquileia Patriarchate. Until 1800, the facade of the church was facing one of the tributaries of the Adige River, now covered with earth.
