Construction of Florence Baptistery

The Florence Baptistery, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, is one of the oldest buildings in Florence and a leading example of Florentine Romanesque architecture. The octagonal building is faced with white and green marble in geometric patterns, and the present structure was consecrated in the eleventh century, although it was long believed to be of Roman origin. Its interior is covered with magnificent mosaics, including a vast Last Judgment. The baptistery is famous for its three sets of bronze doors, by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti, of which the last, known as the Gates of Paradise, was praised by Michelangelo. Many famous Florentines were baptized there, including the poet Dante Alighieri.

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