Battistero di San Giovanni
Florence
The Baptistery of San Giovanni is one of the oldest and best-loved monuments in Florence, facing the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Clad in white and green marble, it holds splendid golden mosaics and Ghiberti's famous Gates of Paradise, which Michelangelo judged worthy of being the entrance to heaven.
The story of the Baptistery
The Baptistery of San Giovanni is dedicated to the patron saint of Florence and stands in the square that bears his name, opposite the Duomo. Built between the 11th and 12th centuries in Romanesque style, it was long believed by Florentines to be an ancient Roman temple, so deeply was it revered. For centuries it was the place where every Florentine was baptised, among them the poet Dante Alighieri, who fondly calls it his "bel San Giovanni", his beautiful San Giovanni.
Architecture and mosaics
The building has an octagonal plan and is clad in white Carrara marble and green Prato marble, laid out in elegant geometric patterns that anticipate Renaissance taste. Inside, the great dome is covered by an extraordinary cycle of gold-ground mosaics begun in the 13th century, with scenes of the Last Judgement and a gigantic Christ dominating the scene.
The bronze doors
The Baptistery is famous above all for its three bronze doors. The best known is the east door, made by Lorenzo Ghiberti between 1425 and 1452, with ten gilded panels showing episodes from the Old Testament. Michelangelo said it was worthy of being the Gate of Paradise, and that is the name it goes by. The originals are now in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, replaced on site by faithful copies.
Visiting the Baptistery
The Baptistery is part of the monumental complex of the Duomo of Florence, together with the cathedral, Brunelleschi's dome and Giotto's bell tower. Inside you can admire the mosaics and the inlaid floor. It is a key stop on the treasure map for grasping the roots of Florentine art.
