Bronze Doors Basilica of San Zeno

The bronze doors of the Basilica of San Zeno in Verona are recognized as a masterpiece of European Romanesque art. There are forty-eight panels in total, each representing a scene from the Old or the New Testament. Real serious stuff, and yet standing there, what do I see when I look up? Shrek. I can’t help it! That’s the way my mind works, especially when I’m fatigued from trying to understand Italian all day.

Italy Pic of the Day Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore Door

Bronze Doors Basilica of San Zeno

I know right! Come on Brandy take this seriously… I can do this. This is serious stuff. There are serious videos about the bronze doors of San Zeno.

See, if you don’t speak Italian either, you too might start seeing Shrek! No this is serious, come on Brandy!

Meaning of the Basilica of San Zeno Bronze Doors

For those who have an honest curiosity about the significance of the bronze doors of San Zeno, there is a book aptly titled San Zeno The Porte Bronzee that sells for $76. See, serious stuff! Here’s a summary from the publishers.

“The bronze doors of the basilica of San Zeno in Verona are one of the absolute masterpieces of European Romanesque art.
The scenes of intense expressive power of the forty-eight panels are connected by openwork frames and minor decorative elements and are arranged on the two doors of the door to synthetically symbolize the Christian’s path to salvation: Christ as the door to eternal life.
On the left wing there are mainly episodes from the New Testament, while in the right wing there are scenes from the Old Testament and four panels with stories of St. Zeno.
The bronzes are attributed to three different “masters” and their ateliers, and are dated between the end of the 11th and the 13th century.”
Cierre publishing group

In all seriousness, the Bronze Doors of San Zeno are rather spectacular and thanks to the Romanesque architecture of the Basilica, they are massive!

Italy Pic of the Day Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore doors — Doors of Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore

It just makes me smile to think of my Sister reading this, who can now see nothing but Shrek in today’s Italy Pic of the Day! My Sis is the last person to make me laugh so hard, I couldn’t make any sound. I miss you Sis. Here’s hoping you find something unexpectedly funny that makes you laugh out loud this weekend. Here I’ll get you started.