The baptistery, an octagonal church building with a semi-circular apse, standing on a stepped podium, - was built in the fourth and fifth centuries near the north gate of the Florence of the Roman period. The baptistery received its modern appearance in the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. In 1128 it was covered with a smooth pyramidal roof, the lantern with the columns dates from 1150, and the rectangular pulpit from 1202. On the outside the building is clad in green and white marble. Each facet of the baptistery has three-petalled division, decorated with pilasters and topped by an entablature and semicircular arches framing the windows.
The bronze gates deserve special attention. The gates are located on three sides of the Baptistery of St John the Baptist: the South Gate, by Andrea Pisano, with scenes from the life of John the Baptist and allegories of the Virtues; The Northern Gate by Ghiberti with episodes from the New Testament, the Evangelists and the Teachers of the Church. Church; the Eastern Gate, Ghiberti's masterpiece, rightly considered the most the most famous. They were commissioned by the Merchants' Guild in 1425, are divided into ten panels and reproduce scenes from the Old Testament. In terms of perfection. execution of the gate deservedly bears the name given to it by Michelangelo - "Gate of Paradise". of Paradise".
The interior of the Baptistery - two-order; the lower order with columns, the upper - with a pilasters framing paired windows. The surface of the walls is covered with marble mosaic of geometric patterns, which resembles the paving of the floors. Among Among the works of art housed here, the tomb of Antipope John XXIII is of particular interest. The tomb of Antipope John XXIII is of particular interest. Michelozzo and Donatello.
The pulpit is decorated with beautiful mosaics of the XIII century, made at the same time with the the mosaics of the vault. The mosaics of the vault are as follows: on either side of the large image of Christ in Glory by Coppo di Marcovaldo is flanked by six rows of scenes from the life of John the Baptist. the life of John the Baptist, Christ, Joseph, from the Book of Genesis, the Theocracy of Heaven with Christ and the seraphim. Christ and the seraphim, and ornamental motifs.
