Church of San Severo

Church of San Severo in Bardolino, Diocese of Verona, was part of the district of the parish of Garda at least until the fifteenth century when it became a parish thanks to its dominant role over other religious centers of the area, its size and antiquity of its existence.

Church of San Severo: the construction of the building as you see today dates back to 1109 (inscription on a capital of the nave), but the first building dates back to the ninth century, traces you see them on the outside of the crypt that is internally bounded by seven pillars. The plant Romanesque building has three naves each ending with a ‘apse, the smaller side with the side not orthogonal to the side walls. The aisles are separated by rows of five arches on each side with cylindrical columns formed by alternating layers of stone and brick with capitals notched stone, some with simple geometric patterns in relief; the cover is made with wooden trusses. Internally there are a number of important frescoes dating between the eleventh and the mid-twelfth century, connected with the themes of the sacred empire and with devotion to the relics of the Holy Land on the south wall shows scenes of the Apocalypse and scenes of the lives of the Virgin and Jesus; from the apse to the entrance are in succession the Annunciation, the Visitation, St. John turned toward the voice that speaks to him, appearance of the Son of Man in the midst of the seven candlesticks, delivery of letters to the seven churches of Asia Saint John has the vision of the twenty-four elders, the Nativity, Annunciation to the Shepherds, the opening of the sixth seal, and the sound of the fifth trumpet plague of locusts, the sound of the sixth trumpet (knights of monsters overwhelm the third part of humanity) The Dragon and the Woman; on the northern wall depicting episodes of the legend of the discovery of the Holy Cross; from the entrance to the apse are followed the dream of Constantine, the battle of Ponte Milvio, the triumph of Constantine, the Empress Helena (mother of Constantine) interrogates a group of Jews, Elena commanded to bring to justice Judah, Elena commands Judah extract from the well of torture, Finding of the Three Crosses, proof of the authenticity of the True Cross; columns from the nave are traces of frescoes depicting some holy bishops dating from the thirteenth century. Externally the church of San Severo was destined to be plastered.

Informations taken from “Garda Romanico” of Renata Salvarani