Baptistery of St. John Florence

The Battistero San Giovanni or Baptistery of St. John is located in the Piazza Duomo in Florence. The original is one of the oldest constructions of Florence and goes back to the 4th century. This architectural masterpiece was to become a model for numerous other European buildings, and was completed in 1128. The octagon shaped baptistery with its distinct green and white marble was until the end of the 19th century where all Catholic Florentines were baptized - including the well-to-do members of the Medici family and many famed artists such as Dante. The three massive bronze portals, which are works of sculpture unsurpassed in the Western world, were added later - the doors of the south side in 1340, the north ones towards the end of 1425 and the famous Gates of Paradise on the east side in 1452.