Church of Santa Corona

The church, founded by the Dominicans, was begun in 1261 to house the relic of the Holy Thorn, donated by Louis IX, King of France, to the Bishop of Vicenza, Blessed Bartholomew of Breganze.

The Gothic interior, with a presbytery built by Lorenzo da Bologna in the second half of the 15th century, houses important paintings and sculptures. Among these, the "Baptism of Christ", a masterpiece by Giovanni Bellini located on Garzadori Altar, a work attributed to Rocco da Vicenza, and the "Adoration of the Magi" by Paolo Veronese. Furthermore, the "Madonna of the Stars" by Lorenzo Veneziano and Marcello Fogolino; the large alterpiece of the "Magdalene and Saints" by Bartolomeo Montagna; the "Madonna with Child and Saints" by Giambattista Pittoni. The apse of the church houses the remarkable wooden choir, carved and inlaid, by Pier Antonio dell'Abate. Among the oldest decoration, the frescoes by Michelino da Besozzo in the Thiene Chapel, from the early fifteenth century, are an important testimony to the most up-to-date international Gothic.

Going down the two staircases, on the sides of the steps of the presbytery, you enter the crypt, built by Lorenzo da Bologna. The sculptural group by Girolamo Pittoni stands out in the apse, depicting Christ the Redeemer between Saint Louis IX and Blessed Bartholomew of Breganze. On the right side of the crypt is the famous Valmarana Chapel by Andrea Palladio. 

The explanatory panels located in the crypt allow visitors to assess the hard work carried out for the restoration of the monument.

An Italian and English free digital guide of the Church of Santa Corona is available at chiesadisantacorona.vicenza.it