Baptistery of St John Tourism

The Baptistery of St. John, known locally as Battistero di San Giovanni, is an iconic religious monument located in the heart of Florence, Italy, right in front of the Florence Cathedral. It is renowned for its remarkable architecture and artistic significance. This Florentine Romanesque building is one of the oldest edifices in the city, with its construction dated between 1059 and 1128. Notable for the geometrically patterned marble panels that adorn its exterior and the intricate mosaics that cover the interior of the octagonal dome, the Baptistery is a testament to the artistic and cultural flourishing of medieval Florence. It is perhaps most famous for its three sets of artistically significant bronze doors with relief sculptures. The east doors, dubbed the 'Gates of Paradise' by Michelangelo, were created by Lorenzo Ghiberti and are considered a masterpiece of the Renaissance. The Baptistery holds immense religious significance, being the site where members of the Medici family, among others, were baptized.