In the context of the Franciscan year 2026, with the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi (October 3, 1226), the Associazione Chiese Vive proposes a series of themed guided tours of the Church of San Fermo Maggiore titled "Saint Francis and the Franciscans in San Fermo Maggiore".
Four dates, from March to May, to discover the beauties of one of the historical churches of Verona that houses numerous works on the theme of Franciscanism, including one of the oldest frescoes of the saint (circa 1280) in the lower church, 14th-century frescoes in the Gothic section, the Brenzoni mausoleum, and Franciscan pictorial cycles, making it artistically the richest in the city.
The history of San Fermo is an extraordinary testimony, over the centuries, of the devotion to the Martyr Saints Fermo and Rustico, who were killed in 304 A.D. along the banks of the Adige River. Their story is well narrated in the bronze bas-reliefs that decorate the portal, a work from 1997 by maestro Luciano Minguzzi. The church is a refined example of the Gothic style spread in Italy by the Order of Friars Minor and represents a singular case for its references to French architecture, especially in the upper part of the building, with spires and pinnacles unusual in the urban landscape.
Reservation is mandatory.