To the west of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Duomo there is a Baptistery which is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Construction began in 1152 but was not completed until 1363. Largely Romanesque and Gothic in style it does, however, display Byzantine and Islamic influences as well. Small and perfectly formed and built to allow for exceptional acoustics, it is a symmetrical architectural gem, only a stone's throw from the more famous Leaning Tower. Why not find a villa with pool in the Pisa area and visit the tower and the baptistery, it's lesser-known but equally fascinating and incredibly beautiful cousin?
The Baptistery was designed by Diotisalvi. We know this because he literally signed his work - his name was carved on a pillar inside, reading "Diotosalvia magister". Construction took place in two stages, accounting for the length of time it took for it to be completed.
The top story and the dome were added to the building in the fourteenth century as the final stage of building and completing its construction.
Pisa's Baptistery is the largest in Italy. If the large statue of St. John the Baptist on top is counted, it is even taller than the Leaning Tower.
The top story and the dome were added to the building in the fourteenth century as the final stage of building and completing its construction.
Pisa's Baptistery is the largest in Italy. If the large statue of St. John the Baptist on top is counted, it is even taller than the Leaning Tower.
Mostly Romanesque and Gothic in style, the lower register with its rounded arches reflects work during the earlier Romanesque period. The upper section, however, with its distinctive pointed arches, is from the later Gothic period.
The façade, articulated by arches and columns is rather ornate and detailed. The restrained interior is a little less elaborate but still manages to be equally dramatic and awe-inspiring.
The octagonal font from 1246 is by Guido Bigarelli da Como and the bronze sculpture of St. John was made by the sculptor, Italo Griselli.
Dedicated to St John, the walls display artworks depicting various stages of St. John's life and there is a piece depicting Christ between the Madonna and St. John, surrounded by Angels on the upper storey.
Like the Leaning Tower and the Cathedral, the Baptistry leans to one side – 0.6 degrees in the direction of the Cathedral. The sand of the Piazza dei Miracoli, on which the Baptistery and other buildings were constructed doesn't support the weight of such structures and is the cause of the lean. Also due to its location on the Piazza dei Miracoli, it will be busy and full of tourists, even if lesser-known so be aware of that.
However, as the building is covered by a double dome - the inner one a dodecagonal truncated pyramid and the outer a hemispherical vault, with a smaller dome on top - the Baptistery has exceptional acoustics. Pop by on your trip to Pisa and hear the security guards perform a series of vocal intonations every 30 minutes.
The façade, articulated by arches and columns is rather ornate and detailed. The restrained interior is a little less elaborate but still manages to be equally dramatic and awe-inspiring.
The octagonal font from 1246 is by Guido Bigarelli da Como and the bronze sculpture of St. John was made by the sculptor, Italo Griselli.
Dedicated to St John, the walls display artworks depicting various stages of St. John's life and there is a piece depicting Christ between the Madonna and St. John, surrounded by Angels on the upper storey.
Like the Leaning Tower and the Cathedral, the Baptistry leans to one side – 0.6 degrees in the direction of the Cathedral. The sand of the Piazza dei Miracoli, on which the Baptistery and other buildings were constructed doesn't support the weight of such structures and is the cause of the lean. Also due to its location on the Piazza dei Miracoli, it will be busy and full of tourists, even if lesser-known so be aware of that.
However, as the building is covered by a double dome - the inner one a dodecagonal truncated pyramid and the outer a hemispherical vault, with a smaller dome on top - the Baptistery has exceptional acoustics. Pop by on your trip to Pisa and hear the security guards perform a series of vocal intonations every 30 minutes.
Photo credits
picture 1: Massimo Catarinella / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: JoJan / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Lonewolf1976 / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Massimo Catarinella / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: JoJan / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Lonewolf1976 / CC BY-SA 3.0
