The Baptistery of Florence: The Monument Dedicated to the Patron Saint of the Tuscan Capital, John the Baptist
John the Baptist: A righteous man, free from vice, bearer of light and truth. Florence celebrates its beloved patron with a grand monument: the Baptistery, built under mysterious circumstances today. A marvel you absolutely cannot miss, we will help you discover it, illustrating the history and marvellous works of the “Beautiful St. John” sung by Dante Alighieri. Notably, the mosaics are a solid testament to the collaboration between the finest Florentine and Venetian artists of the 14th century.
The Baptistery of Florence: The Brief and Mysterious History of the Basilica of Knights and Poets
Very little is known about the true origins of The Baptistery of Florence. In the 16th century, it was hypothesized that the monument had risen on the site of a previous temple dedicated to Mars. However, the discovery of Roman domus remains and ancient mosaics during excavations held about three hundred years later shifted expert research. There were also medieval origin theories, widely accepted except by a group of scholars inclined to support paleochristian origins. Even today, experts’ opinions are strongly divided on the period when The Baptistery of Florence was constructed: some believe it can be traced back to the 5th century AD. In contrast, others suggest around the 11th century AD.
One thing sure about the history of this majestic work is that it was only named “Baptistery” in 1128, marking the beginning of the gradual reconstruction of the facade and interior spaces. No documents indicate the start of construction during which the famous Dome was built. However, the famous mosaics were certainly created between 1200 and 1300. Later, Andrea Pisano was commissioned to create the first bronze door, now placed to the south.
The North Door, built in the first half of the 15th century, is the work of Lorenzo Ghiberti, as is the third door, known as the “Gate of Paradise,” positioned to the east. Finally, in 1576, Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici had the famous medieval baptistery fonts mentioned by Dante in a canto of the Inferno destroyed, along with the choir of the apse, to modernize the church for the baptism of Francesco I.
The Florence Baptistery: The Interior and Exterior of the Monument Dedicated to John the Baptist
About half the size of the Duomo, the Florence Baptistery was designed to accommodate many faithful during the sacrament of baptism. You’ll notice this when observing the doors above the facade. Beyond their enormous size, the decorations depict emblematic biblical episodes. The South Door contains the Stories of St. John the Baptist, the North Door depicts New Testament Stories or Stories of Christ, and the East Door portrays Old Testament Stories.
The South Door, a masterpiece by Andrea Pisano, is divided into twenty-eight panels. Twenty panels depict episodes from the life of the Patron Saint of Florence, and eight are dedicated to the three theological virtues. Among the most famous panels are the Visitation, the Baptism of Christ, Hope, Humility, and the Beheading of the Baptist. Take a moment to admire the magnificent frame based on a design by Ghiberti, containing a complex message of theological inspiration. Above, the sculpture of the Baptist with the executioner during Salome’s dance is a copy, replacing the original work housed in the Opera del Duomo Museum.
The North Door by Lorenzo Ghiberti, now a replica, features a similar frame and the same division into panels as the South Door. Twenty panels are dedicated to the New Testament Stories, eight to the Four Evangelists and the Four Doctors of the Church. Notable here are depictions of the Last Supper, St. Augustine, and St. Matthew, along with the sculptural group “The Preaching of the Baptist,” strongly influenced by Leonardo da Vinci.
Sansovino‘s sculptural group of the Baptism of Jesus surmises the East Door or Gate of Paradise. Praised for its beauty, it differs from the previous doors by having ten panels with elaborate frames depicting episodes from the Old Testament. Faithful copies replaced these after restoring the originals following the 1966 Arno flood. Aside from the Baptistery of St. John, the natural catastrophe devastated several monuments, such as the Church of Santa Croce and the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, but not the Ponte Vecchio, saved by the ingenious intuition of architect Gaddi.
Now, lift your gaze from the doors, take a few steps back, and observe The Baptistery of Florence.
The exterior, reminiscent of the Basilica of Santa Croce, captivates with its pure Carrara marble and the play of lines in green Prato marble. It is distributed on each side of the facade along three horizontal bands, divided by an upper arch and a window. The Dome, covered by a pyramid roof, is divided into eight segments following the octagonal shape of The Baptistery of Florence.
The apse juts out from the opposite side of the facade. The Romanesque Byzantine architecture incorporates ancient elements in the arrangement of columns and overall space distribution, creating a sublime combination of history, forms, and colours.
Upon entering The Baptistery of Florence, you’ll find yourself immersed in a profusion of polychrome marbles.
The interior walls, divided into three horizontal sections, are mainly covered in Carrara white, Prato green, cipollini, and granite. The latter two also form the columns with gilded capitals along the lower band. The middle band features an internal loggia typical of early Christian basilicas, while the Dome crowns the upper band. You won’t help but be amazed by the inlaid floor created in 1209, extending beneath your feet like the most exquisite of Arab carpets. The main altar, by Giuseppe Castellucci, follows a Neoromanesque style and reveals a partially hidden underground section where the remains of a Roman domus were found in the early 20th century.
The Mosaics of the Florence Baptistery or Baptistery of St. John
The Dome of the Florence Baptistery and the Apse Vault are covered by a complex of splendid mosaics, created between 1223 and 1330, under the supervision of the Arte di Calimala, based on designs by artists like Cimabue and Meliore.
Friar Jacopo carried out the initial works in the apse area. However, Giorgio Vasari believes that the Pantocrator and the angels had been assembled earlier by the painter and mosaicist Andrea Tafi. Joining the project later was the father of the renowned painter Taddeo Gaddi, namely Gaddo Gaddi, and according to scholars, even Giotto and other celebrated Florentine artists participated. Overall, the mosaic work of the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence owes much to skilled Venetian mosaicists, as evidenced by carefully studying the decorations.
You’ll be able to admire Jesus as a Child and the Virgin Mary on the Apse Vault. Within a wheel supported by four telamons, you’ll see the eight Prophets crowned by angels holding the medallion of the Lamb of God, with the inscription “hic deus est magnus mitis quem denotat agnus.”
The Dome of the Florence Baptistery features a golden mosaic where the eight segments of the structure divide the thematic areas of the work, further divided into bands and registers.
In the inner band, you’ll find the Angelic Hierarchies composed of Thrones, who transport God’s throne to Heaven; Dominions, holding the sceptre with the trinity symbol and legislating the Universe; Virtues, angelic soldiers controlling gifts for humans; Principalities overseeing nations; Archangels, counsellors and messengers of God, and Angels, guardians of mankind.
The Universal Judgment occupies the lower three segments: the central one depicts the imposing figure of the Judge Christ, flanked by angelic hosts, channelled into the first of the three registers that divide the two side segments. In the central register, you’ll find the Madonna on the right, St. John on the left, and adjacent to them, the Apostles. The outer segments depict representations of Paradise and Hell.
The upper segments of the Dome, divided into four registers, represent from the exterior to the interior: Stories of St. John the Baptist, Stories of Mary and Christ, Stories of Joseph, and Stories of Genesis.
Curiosities You Might Not Have Known About The Baptistery of Florence
An interesting curiosity about the Baptistery of San Giovanni is that its octagonal floor plan holds a specific meaning: like all Byzantine baptisteries, the architecture symbolizes the day of the Resurrection, the eighth day of the week. But there’s more: there’s much more to know about this significant religious symbol, things you probably wouldn’t have expected! Keep reading, and you’ll discover fascinating information.
The framing of the South Door features countless heads of prophets, including a hidden depiction of Ghiberti himself.
In 1408, a sundial was inaugurated in the Baptistery of Florence, similar to the one in the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. The hole in the Dome allowed sunlight to hit the zodiac signs, depicted on the marble slab now placed on the Gate of Paradise, where you can read “en giro torte sol ciclos et rotor igne,” a palindromic inscription translated as “I, the sun, with fire, make the circles turn crookedly, and I also rotate.”
The medieval baptismal fonts, replaced by Cosimo I de’ Medici, are sung about in the 19th canto of Dante‘s Inferno, in the tercet from the sixteenth to the eighteenth verse. In the following tercet, Dante recounts an unexpected anecdote: he seems to have broken one of the baptismal fonts to save the life of a young boy trapped with his head inside. The Supreme Poet, known for his reserve, never revealed something about himself so openly within his works. It is believed that such a gesture had significant and still unknown motivations. What’s certain is that Dante Alighieri managed to surprise generations of scholars and readers of his immortal Divine Comedy with this amusing episode.
The Baptistery of Florence: Opening Hours and Ticket Prices
It is necessary to purchase new passes to visit the baptistery. The baptistery is included in all three passes (BRUNELLESCHI PASS, GIOTTO PASS, GHIBERTI PASS) which cost from € 15-30, depending on your choice of 3, 4 or all five monuments.
Here are the passes:
- BRUNELLESCHI PASS: This is the all-inclusive pass that includes ALL of the monuments in Piazza del Duomo, including the climb up the Cupola. It is, of course, the most expensive at €30 per person, reduced for kids between 7 and 14 years old to €12 and free to kids under 6 years old.
- GIOTTO PASS: Includes all of the sites EXCEPT for the Cupola. It costs €20 for adults, €7 for ages 7-14 and free under 6.
- GHIBERTI PASS: Includes all of the sites that do not require climbing; that is, it excludes the Bell tower and Cupola. It thus includes the museum, the Baptistery, and the Crypt of Santa Reparata. Cost is €15 for adults, €5 for ages 7-14, and again free to kids under 6.
Opening hours
Every day 9am – 7:45pm.
Hours are subject to change at any time, as this is a religious building and used for religious services
To confirm the hours for the day you want to visit, please check the official website: www.duomo.firenze.it
Our Top Recommendations
Duomo Complex Private Tour & Bell Tower Climb with Local Guide
Private Renaissance Walking Tour of Florence with Local Guide
How to Reach The Baptistery of Florence (the Baptistery of San Giovanni)
As mentioned earlier, the Florence Baptistery is located near Santa Maria Novella Station in Piazza San Giovanni, in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. We recommend walking within the historic centre of Florence as there are numerous pedestrian areas.
To reach the Baptistery of San Giovanni, walk through Piazza della Stazione and reach Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia on the left. From here, continue along Via Panzani and Via de’ Cerretani, and you will find yourself in Piazza San Giovanni. The street that will lead you directly to the Baptistery is Via de’ Martelli. Once there, one of the most stimulating visits of your Florentine stay will begin!
The Baptistery of Florence – Map
Address : Piazza San Giovanni, 50122 Firenze FI