Built over the ruins of a 5th century Roman Temple, it may have been made as early as the 7th century; no one really knows the exact dates of its origin. It was consecrated in 1128, easily making it the oldest religious building in Florence, and thus on of it’s oldest monuments. For every century until the 19th, all Florentine Catholics were baptised here. It’s dedicated to Florence’s patron saint.

The highlights of the baptisery are:

Exterior Highlights:

• The beautiful marble it’s made of - white Carrara marble and green Prato marble.
• Three large, ornately decorated doors on three of the four sides, one of which is the original, as it was built, depicting scenes from St. John's life. There’s quite an interesting story behind the making of the North Door. Read up on it. Also check out the beautiful story panels on each of the doors.
• The Gates of Paradise are doors so named because Michelangelo himself thought them worth and beautiful enough for that purpose. They are surmounted by satues depicting the Baptism of Christ.

Interior Highlights:

• The 13th century Mosaic Ceiling is easily the most sublime piece of art in the building. No one really knows who the painters were. It mainly depicts three scenes – the Last Judgment, the Reward of the Saved, and the Punishments of the Damned. There are other minor scenes surrounding this.
• Walls of dark green and white marble.
• The mosaics on the rectangular apse.
• The monumental Tomb of Antipope John XXIII by Donatello and Michelozzo Michelozzi.
• Oriental zodiac motifs on the marble pavement mosaics.

• Buy the OPA pass.

• The EUR 10 OPA pass, if purchased also pays for the Duomo Cupola, the Museum, and the Santa Reparata.

• Hours are subject to change without notice.
• Closed on Easter Sunday.

• Buses 14, 23, and C1; stop-Pucci
• Bus C2; stop-Oriuolo
• Bus 6 and 11; stop-Vecchietti

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