Florence Baptistery

The Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence, also known as the Baptistery of San Giovanni, is one of the oldest and most fascinating monuments in the city. Located in Piazza del Duomo, in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, it represents an extraordinary example of Tuscan Romanesque architecture. Its construction dates back to the 11th century, with work starting around 1059 and completed in 1128. However, its roots go even further back in time, as it is believed that the site once housed an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Mars, later converted into a Christian church. The building has an octagonal shape, symbolizing rebirth and resurrection, with each of its eight sides covered in white Carrara marble and green Prato marble, arranged in elegant geometric patterns. The exterior is characterized by three horizontal levels, with trefoil windows and a semicircular apse that was modified in 1202 into a rectangular shape. On the western side, there is a sacristy, a kind of extended apse. The Baptistery is famous mainly for its three series of bronze doors, masterpieces of Renaissance art. The south doors, the oldest, were made by Andrea Pisano between 1330 and 1336 and depict scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist. The north doors, the work of Lorenzo Ghiberti, were completed between 1403 and 1424 and represent episodes from the life of Christ. Finally, the east doors, known as the “Gates of Paradise,” are Ghiberti’s masterpiece and illustrate scenes from the Old Testament in ten magnificent panels. The interior of the Baptistery is equally impressive, dominated by a vast mosaic covering the entire vault and apse, executed by artists of the Byzantine school and completed by Tuscan masters of the 13th and 14th centuries, including Cimabue and Coppo di Marcovaldo. The mosaic depicts the Last Judgment with an imposing Christ in the center, surrounded by angels, prophets, and scenes from Genesis, the life of Christ, and St. John the Baptist. The representation of hell, with the damned tortured by devils and serpents, is particularly vivid and recalls Dante’s description of Inferno. The floor is another element of great interest, with its marble geometric patterns reminiscent of oriental carpets, inspired by the trades of Florentine merchants. In the center, there is an ancient octagonal baptismal font, one of the largest of its kind, used for centuries for the baptisms of Florentine citizens, including that of the poet Dante Alighieri. Another notable work inside is the tomb of the antipope John XXIII, created by Donatello and Michelozzo in 1428. This marble and bronze monument, with finely carved details, is an exceptional example of Renaissance art. Other precious objects, such as the Silver Cross and the Silver Altar of the Pollaiolo, are kept in the nearby Museum of the Opera del Duomo, along with the original bronze doors, to protect them from the weather.