Baptistery of San Giovanni Pisa

Since 1987, the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, with its many important monuments, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next to the world-famous Leaning Tower and the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, another building surprises visitors: the Baptistery. This freestanding baptistery is dedicated to John the Baptist and, standing 54 meters tall with a circumference of 107 meters, is considered the largest baptistery in the world.

In the mid-12th century, the architect Diotisalvi began construction of the circular Romanesque-style building, designed to complement the cathedral. After a hiatus caused by a lack of funds, work on the exterior cladding resumed only in 1270 under Niccolò Pisano and, following his death in 1278, was completed by his son Giovanni Pisano. The façade combines elements of two architectural styles: Romanesque and Gothic

An important baptism

Anyone who enters the church will be amazed by the magnificent octagonal baptismal font located in the center of the nave: it was created in the 13th century by the sculptor Guido Bigareli of Como. Numerous baptisms have taken place here, including that of the famous scientist Galileo Galilei in 1564. In addition to the font, the marble pulpit is also worth seeing; it too dates back to the 13th century and was designed by Niccolò Pisano. Since 1929, the interior has also featured a statue of St. John the Baptist, an exceptional work by Italo Griselli.