Baptistery San Giovanni is the oldest building in the historic center of Florence, which dates back to the 5th century. The modern view is an octagonal building made of white-green marble - it belongs to the 11th-12th centuries, it is older than even the famous Duomo. But it's not the venerable age that attracts most of the tourists who are eager to visit Florence's main baptismal. The highlight of the baptistery of San Giovanni is the eastern gate with 10 gilded bas-relief panels on biblical themes

Like all baptisteries in the world, Florentine was intended for christenings, than here and was engaged until the 19th century. Catholicism in it was adopted by the Medici, Dante, and a hundred more famous citizens of the republic and a thousand commoners.

As already mentioned above, the main artistic merit of the baptistery is the doors, masterfully decorated with gilded bas-reliefs by Pisano and Ghiberti. The southern gates of Pisano's work tell us about the life of John the Baptist. Eastern, they are often called "The Gates of Paradise", - biblical stories created by a young sculptor from Florence Lorenzo Ghiberti

Address: Piazza del Duomo. Opening hours, Mon-Sat 12: 00-19: 00, Sun 8: 30-14: 00, First Saturday of the month at 8: 30-14: 00. The cost of the visit is 5 EUR

Baptistery of San Giovanni @ Giovanni

Doors Baptistery

Dome of the Baptistery

Reviews of the Baptistery of San Giovanni (2)

Evaluation 10

Magnificently November 26, 2014

Igira

was (a) here in November 2012

If you are in Florence, then, as they say, you will not pass by the baptistery of San Giovanni. Because this is the oldest building and the pearl of the main square of the city - the Duomo Square. Start with a calm external examination of this building. The most valuable in appearance is the gate. There are only three of them. The most important and famous are the Oriental, which are facing the Duomo, by itself. Ten gilded panels with scenes of the Old Testament are so masterly that you can stand for a very long time considering the details ... Read the full review

Evaluation 10

Baptistery of San Giovanni - one of Florence's attractions August 25, 2014

Elena

was here in May 2014

Florence is not just an amazing and beautiful city of Italy. This is a whole country. This is a real open-air museum, which can take about a month to inspect, if not more, if you want to visit all the galleries, theaters and museums of this city. Here you will find the amazing art of the past centuries, which reflects the fullness of Italian culture. I advise you to visit the Baptistery of San Giovanni, considered one of the most famous monuments of culture and architecture in Florence .... Read the full review