The Abbey of San Zeno was built in the ninth century on the remains of a pre-existing monastery, whose origins date back to the fourth century. Today just the tower of the abbey and some of cloisters that are now part of the basilica of San Zeno survived. The abbey has been very important for the history of Verona and for the relationships between German emperors and Italy. It was mainly destroyed during the Napoleonic era and therefore did not follow the fate of the other abbey properties in Verona, that were caught by the French before becoming Austrian-owned property, sometimes redeemed as in the case of Santa Maria in Organo. Since early nineteenth century began a period of disposal of the ancient Abbey and Benedictine convent, which ended in the mid-twentieth century. Since the second world war, a number of restorations were executed, in particular the tower and part of the original abbey, now completely restored and open for visiting.