San Giovanni Battista, Gothic church in Gubbio, Italy
San Giovanni Battista is a Gothic church in the historic center of Gubbio, with an asymmetrical stone facade, a rounded portal, and geometric carvings. A sturdy Romanesque bell tower stands directly beside it, built in a noticeably different style from the main body of the church.
The church was built during the 13th and 14th centuries on a site where an earlier cathedral dedicated to San Mariano once stood. That earlier place of worship had been in use since the 4th century, making this one of the oldest religious sites in Gubbio.
Inside, a stone baptismal font carved with scenes from the life of John the Baptist draws the attention of many visitors. The quality of these reliefs gives a good sense of what local medieval stonemasons were capable of.
The church is on Piazza San Giovanni, right in the heart of the old town, and easy to reach on foot from most of the surrounding streets. Visiting outside of service times gives you more freedom to walk around and take in the interior.
Since 2000, the church's exterior has appeared in the Italian television series Don Matteo, in which a priest solves criminal cases. Fans of the show often come here specifically to recognize the scenes they have watched on screen.
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