The Cathedral, which is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, is the central structure of a complex of architectural buildings which include San Giovanni in Fonte, Santa Elena, the Canons’ cloister, the Capitular library, the square in front of the church and the bishop’s residence.
During the Roman Empire, in the area of the present day church, there were villas with private thermal baths (balnea) and probably also a few small temples.
The first palaeo Christian basilica was built on the area occupied today by the church of Santa Elena. It was consecrated by S. Zeno, bishop of Verona, between 362 380 A.D. but it soon turned out to be too small and a few decades later it was replaced by a larger basilica. Quite a few remains of the mosaic floor of both palaeo Christian basilicas can be seen under the church of Santa Elena and the Canons’ cloister.
The second palaeo christian basilica collapsed, probably during the 7th century A.D., due to a strong fire or maybe an earthquake. 
Archdeacon Pacifico was in charge of the reconstruction of the church, between the 8th and the 9th century and the Cathedral, known by the name of Santa Maria Matricolare, was built further south, on the area on which it is situated today.
The church was greatly damaged by an earthquake in 1117 A.D. 
The reconstruction work lasted at least 20 years: the building acquired its current width and the two Romanesque porches. 
The inside was completely renovated between the second half of the 15th and the second half of the 16th century with the addition of the side chapels and the semicircular choir screen.
Note outside the Romanesque façade, Nicolò double level porch (1138), the portal with its lunette and reliefs, the splendid side porch and the apse area. Inside the church you can see: the chapels with works by Falconetto, Liberale, Giolfino, Torbido, Titian’s “Assumption” (1530) and Sammicheli’s original choir screen.