Church of Santa Corona

The Church of Santa Corona was built in 1261 by the Dominicans with the aim of housing the relic of a True thorn from Christ's Crown of Thorns donated to the Bishop of Vicenza, Beato Bartolomeo da Breganze, by St  Louis of France (King Louis IX).
It was modified over the ages. The 15th century apse was by Lorenzo da Bologna, the Valmarana Chapel dates back to the 16th century, the Rosary Chapel is from the 17th. In the 19th century the Baroque was eliminated and there were also other changes.
This church has the most precious collection of works of art of all the Vicenza churches. There are works by Giovanni Bellini ("The Baptism of Christ"), Paolo Veronese ("The Adoration of the Magi"), Francesco Maffei, Gianbattista Pittoni, the school of Maganza, Bartolomeo Montagna and Battista da Vicenza.
The crypt holds a sculptured group of Christ, Beato Bartolomeo da Breganze and the King of France, St Louis IX, executed by Girolamo Pittoni da Lumignano. The holy furnishings are also very important, as are the altar and the inlay work of the choir.
The architect Andrea Palladio was buried in this church in the family tomb of his wife (the tombstone is on the last pillar on the left). His remains, or what were believed to be his remains, were moved in the middle of last century to the monumental tomb in the communal cemetery.
The cloisters and the Dominican convent next door, once the Tribunal of the Inquisition, were damaged by air raids.. They were restored and now house the Nature and Archeological Museum.
The High Altar - Liturgical notes

Text approved by the Arts Office of the Diocese of Vicenza

Address: contrà Santa Corona, 2 - tel. 0444 323644

Weekday Masses: 17.30
Feast-day Masses: 12.00, 17.30

Opening times: every day 8.30-12.00 and 14.30-18.30