Baptistery of San Giovanni

The Baptistery of Saint John stands in front of the west facade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Firenze.

The Baptistery is octagonal in shape. Its eight sides represent the eighth day of the Risen Christ, the eighth day being the eternal life granted through baptism. The present Baptistery, which dates from 1059, is probably the third such octagonal building constructed on this site, formerly occupied by a Roman watch tower, the walls of the Roman city having once crossed the area now occupied by the Piazza del Duomo.

The eight sides of the Baptistery are each decorated with geometric patterns of white marble with green Prato inlays. The pilasters, decorated by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1293, are clad in alternating white and green marble bands.

The decorative features of each octagonal side are arranged in patterns of three, starting with three rectangular groupings on the first section topped by three windows framed by blind arches on the second section and three small windows on the third section. A rectangular apse was added to the west side in 1202.

© 2007 LACT Limited. All rights reserved. Image published under GNU Free Documentation License version 1.2 or later.

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