Battistero di San Giovanni
The Baptistery of St. John is a religious building in Florence, Italy. It is located in Piazza San Giovanni, to the south east of the Duomo, the city's cathedral. The baptistery is renowned for its historical, architectural and artistic value. It is one of several buildings on the site that date from Florence's early medieval period.
One of the oldest buildings in the city
The earliest mention of a building devoted to baptism dates to 1088, when it was described as a "Rotunda", but archaeological excavations have revealed earlier foundations, such as those made of brick. They were discovered under the flooring on the southwestern side of the monument during reconstruction work in 1875. The construction was originally finished in 1363 with the addition of a conical dome over a second cupola according to architectural plans.
Rotunda`s constuction
The architecture is in Florentine Romanesque style, with Gothic influences. The inner contents are almost entirely Roman sculptures. The square-ended apse and dome are covered with mosaics executed by Tuscan mosaicists, including, perhaps, the artists of the new Florentine school of painting such as Cimabue and Coppo di Marcovaldo. The Baptistry is renowned for its three sets of artistically important bronze doors with relief sculptures. The south doors were created by Andrea Pisano and the north and east doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The east pair is famous as 'The Gates of Paradise'. Michelangelo's David also stood at the entrance from its completion in 1504 to 1873, when it was moved to the Accademia Gallery.
The Baptistry complex, which includes the Cathedral and the Giotto bell tower, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic center of Florence and is a place every art lover should see.
