Battistero di San Giovanni

About the museum

The Baptistery of San Giovanni stands opposite the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and for centuries was the religious and civic centre of Florence. The present building was consecrated in 1059 by Pope Nicholas II and is perhaps the result of the enlargement of an older baptistery dating back to the 4th century. Until recent times it was believed to have been built as a pagan temple dedicated to Mars, later converted into a church.

The plan is octagonal, with a diameter of about 25.6 metres and an apse extension on the western side. On the outside the walls are clad in white and green marble with geometric motifs and are pierced by three portals and twenty-four windows; inside, a gallery runs along the second level. The floor of large marble carpets dates to the first decades of the 13th century.

The vault, the apse and parts of the gallery are covered by a great cycle of mosaics made between the 13th and 14th centuries, begun by craftsmen of the Byzantine school and continued by great Tuscan masters. In the three western sections of the vault Christ the Judge dominates, between Paradise and Hell; the other sections depict the angelic hierarchies, the stories of Genesis, of Joseph, of Christ and the Virgin, and of Saint John the Baptist. Inside is also the funerary monument of Cardinal Baldassarre Coscia, the work of Donatello and Michelozzo.

The three bronze doors are famous throughout the world: the south door is by Andrea Pisano (1330–1336), the north door by Lorenzo Ghiberti (1403–1424), and the east door, known as the Porta del Paradiso (Gates of Paradise), is also by Ghiberti. The originals are now kept in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, while copies are installed on the Baptistery. The monument is managed by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore.

Highlights

• Romanesque octagonal structure clad in white and green marble
• Medieval mosaics of the vault with Christ the Judge (currently under restoration and not visible from the ground)
• Marble carpet floor from the early 13th century
• Three bronze doors by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti, including the Porta del Paradiso
• Funerary monument to Cardinal Baldassarre Coscia by Donatello and Michelozzo

Operated by

Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore

Admission & discounts

The Baptistery has no single ticket: it is visited with the combined passes of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore. The price shown is that of the Ghiberti Pass (Baptistery, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata), valid for three calendar days from the chosen date. Passes can be bought online on the Opera’s official website.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Baptistery is also accessible to people with mobility difficulties. Free admission for the person with a disability is requested by e-mail (accessibilita@duomo.firenze.it) or at the ticket office in Piazza San Giovanni 7, with a document certifying the condition.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

The Baptistery is located in Piazza San Giovanni, opposite the Duomo, in the historic centre of Florence (limited traffic zone).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit