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Art and Culture
Churches
The Baptistry
 Located in Piazza San Giovanni beside the Duomo and Giotto's belltower, the Baptistry is one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Some say it was built in the eleventh century; some even say it dates to the fifth century, the site of a Romanesque building.
Its octagonal shape is outlined by white and green marble strips and pillars with horizontal bands.
On the upper part, three arches per side outline the window frames on each side; above stands the attic from the thirteenth century, supporting the pyramid-shaped covering. The precious bronze doors are famous.
The oldest is the South Door, by Andrea Pisano (1330-36), which is divided into 28 finely-sculpted panels.
The North Door, also divided into 28 panels, was completed by Lorenzo Ghiberti and illustrious collaborators such as Donatello, Paolo Uccello and Masolino (1403-24).
The East Door, called "of Paradise" because Michelangelo referred to it in this way, is Ghiberti's most famous work, completed with the help of Michelozzo, Gozzoli and others (1424-52).
The interior of the Baptistry, which is rather austere, is paved in marble flooring decorated with fine inlay.
The dome is entirely covered with precious Byzantine mosaics from the thirteenth and fourteenth century.
Numerous works of art are housed here, including some by Donatello and Michelozzo. |
