The oldest monument in the Piazza del Duomo, is situated right in front of the facade of Florence Cathedral and is the Baptistery of San Giovanni. A first building was built already in the fifth or sixth century, this served as a baptistery and should already be octagonal as the present one. In the mid-eleventh century, the baptistery was reconstructed and enriched with marble, some of which come from old buildings. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was added the dome and the apse rectangular. The structure has an octagonal shape, completely covered with slabs of white and green marble from Prato, the Baptistery is covered by a dome with eight slices resting on the perimeter walls and a pyramid roof crushed.

Between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries were performed three beautiful bronze doors and the groups in marble and bronze that dominate them, and that illustrate Bible stories. The oldest door was built in 1330 is by Andrea Pisano, is on the southern gate, which depicts the life of St. John the Baptist. The north door by Lorenzo Ghiberti was built between 1402 and 1425 depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. But the most beautiful door is undoubtedly the east door, in front of the facade of the Duomo, it was made by Lorenzo Ghiberti between 1425 and 1450 with scenes from the Old Testament and was called by Michelangelo "Porta del Paradiso" (Gate of Paradise), the panels today are copies, the originals are on display in the Museum of the Opera del Duomo. 

The interior of the Baptistery is a mixture of styles of the great cultures of medieval Europe, the dome and its decor recall dramatically the Pantheon in Rome, while the floor in part with zodiacal motifs reminiscent of Islamic art, on the walls there are also art forms that can be traced back to art in Germany. Wonderful are the thirteenth-century mosaics which shows clearly the influence of Byzantine, looking up you will be attracted by the beautiful figure of Christ dominating part of the mosaics representing The Last Judgment. The other parts of the mosaic narrate the stories of St. John the Baptist, Joseph, Christ and the Genesis, at the top of the dome are depicted the angelic choirs. The funerary monument of Antipope John XXIII is by Donatello and Michelozzo. 

Type of objects: sculptures, mosaics.

Important works: The Baptistery, one of the greatest examples of Romanesque, also contains important works of art among which are the cycle of the 13th century mosaics and funerary monument of antipope John XXIII executed by Donatello and Michelozzo.

Address: Piazza San Giovanni Firenze Telefono: 055-2302885 E-mail: opera@operaduomo.firenze.it

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 12-19; Sunday: 8,30-14. Closed: 25 December, 1 January, 1 May.

Price: 3.00 €

Handicap access: YES

Exhibition area: 500 sqm

Exhibition halls: 1

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The mosaics of the Baptistery are dominated by the stupendous figure of Jesus Christ. Baptistery of San Giovanni, Florence