Baptistery of San Giovanni
The dome, entirely covered with mosaic showing the
Angelic Hierarchies, Scenes from Genesis, Scenes from the life of Joseph the Patriarch,
Scenes from the life of Christ, Scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist, and the Last Judgement
La cúpula, enteramente recubierta de mosaicos que muestran la
Jerarquías angélicas, Escenas del Génesis, Escenas de la vida de José el Patriarca,
Escenas de la vida de Cristo, Escenas de la vida de San Juan Bautista y el Juicio Final
The oldest religious site in all of Florence
Its origins are unknown although it is believed that it was built over the ruins of a Roman temple dedicated to Mars dating back to the 4th-5th century A.D. It was first described in 897 as a minor basilica. In 1128, it was consacrated as the Baptistery of Florence and as such is the oldest religious monument in Florence. Up until the end of the 19th century, all catholics in Florence were baptized within its doors. Today, young children can still be baptized here on the first Sunday of the month, but as they only have space and time for 4, you have to make the request with ample time.
The Baptistery, dedicated to Florence's patron saint, has an octagonal plan and an octagonal lantern with a cupola. Outside it is clad in geometrically patterned colored marble, white Carrara marble and green Prato marble that is typical of Florentine Romanesque architecture.
El lugar religioso más antiguo de toda Florencia
Se desconoce su origen aunque se cree que fue construida sobre las ruinas de un templo romano dedicado a Marte que data del siglo IV-V d.C. Fue descrita por primera vez en el año 897 como una basílica menor. En 1128, fue consagrado como el baptisterio de Florencia y, como tal, es el monumento religioso más antiguo de Florencia. Hasta finales del siglo XIX, todos los católicos de Florencia eran bautizados dentro de sus puertas. Hoy en día, los niños pequeños todavía pueden ser bautizados aquí el primer domingo de mes, pero como solo tienen espacio y tiempo para 4, hay que hacer la solicitud con tiempo suficiente.
El baptisterio, dedicado al santo patrón de Florencia, tiene planta octogonal y linterna octogonal con cúpula. El exterior está revestido de mármol de colores con dibujos geométricos, mármol blanco de Carrara y mármol verde de Prato, típico de la arquitectura románica florentina.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni is one of the oldest astronomical places in the city of Florence.
Already around the 1000 was placed a marble inlay at the north door which is one of the oldest astronomical Florentine documents.
This is a gnomon which demonstrates the interest for the apparent motion of the sun: through a hole in the dome, solar radiation affecting the signs of the zodiac engraved on marble, thus allowing it to control the path of the sun during the year.
Author of the work may have been the leader and medieval astrologer Strozzo Strozzi. During the thirteenth century, following a remake of the floor, the marble was moved in the eastern part of the Baptistery, so today is no longer possible to assess its accuracy.
Baptistery of San Giovanni
The dome, entirely covered with mosaic showing the
Angelic Hierarchies, Scenes from Genesis, Scenes from the life of Joseph the Patriarch,
Scenes from the life of Christ, Scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist, and the Last Judgement
La cúpula, enteramente recubierta de mosaicos que muestran la
Jerarquías angélicas, Escenas del Génesis, Escenas de la vida de José el Patriarca,
Escenas de la vida de Cristo, Escenas de la vida de San Juan Bautista y el Juicio Final
The oldest religious site in all of Florence
Its origins are unknown although it is believed that it was built over the ruins of a Roman temple dedicated to Mars dating back to the 4th-5th century A.D. It was first described in 897 as a minor basilica. In 1128, it was consacrated as the Baptistery of Florence and as such is the oldest religious monument in Florence. Up until the end of the 19th century, all catholics in Florence were baptized within its doors. Today, young children can still be baptized here on the first Sunday of the month, but as they only have space and time for 4, you have to make the request with ample time.
The Baptistery, dedicated to Florence's patron saint, has an octagonal plan and an octagonal lantern with a cupola. Outside it is clad in geometrically patterned colored marble, white Carrara marble and green Prato marble that is typical of Florentine Romanesque architecture.
El lugar religioso más antiguo de toda Florencia
Se desconoce su origen aunque se cree que fue construida sobre las ruinas de un templo romano dedicado a Marte que data del siglo IV-V d.C. Fue descrita por primera vez en el año 897 como una basílica menor. En 1128, fue consagrado como el baptisterio de Florencia y, como tal, es el monumento religioso más antiguo de Florencia. Hasta finales del siglo XIX, todos los católicos de Florencia eran bautizados dentro de sus puertas. Hoy en día, los niños pequeños todavía pueden ser bautizados aquí el primer domingo de mes, pero como solo tienen espacio y tiempo para 4, hay que hacer la solicitud con tiempo suficiente.
El baptisterio, dedicado al santo patrón de Florencia, tiene planta octogonal y linterna octogonal con cúpula. El exterior está revestido de mármol de colores con dibujos geométricos, mármol blanco de Carrara y mármol verde de Prato, típico de la arquitectura románica florentina.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni is one of the oldest astronomical places in the city of Florence.
Already around the 1000 was placed a marble inlay at the north door which is one of the oldest astronomical Florentine documents.
This is a gnomon which demonstrates the interest for the apparent motion of the sun: through a hole in the dome, solar radiation affecting the signs of the zodiac engraved on marble, thus allowing it to control the path of the sun during the year.
Author of the work may have been the leader and medieval astrologer Strozzo Strozzi. During the thirteenth century, following a remake of the floor, the marble was moved in the eastern part of the Baptistery, so today is no longer possible to assess its accuracy.