Battistero di San Giovanni, Gothic baptistery at Piazza San Giovanni, Siena, Italy.
The rectangular hall features a hexagonal marble font decorated with bronze panels depicting scenes from Saint John the Baptist's life.
Construction of the baptistery occurred between 1316 and 1325 under the direction of architect Camaino di Crescentino during Siena's economic height.
Leading Renaissance artists Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Jacopo della Quercia contributed bronze panels and sculptures to the baptismal font between 1417 and 1431.
The baptistery opens daily from 10:30 to 19:00, with entry included in the OPA SI pass that grants access to multiple religious sites.
The interior walls display frescoes by Vecchietta painted between 1447 and 1450, representing Articles of Faith alongside images of Prophets and Sibyls.
Location: Siena
Inception: 1317
Architects: Camaino di Crescentino, Agnolo di Ventura, Agostino da Siena
Architectural style: Gothic architecture
GPS coordinates: 43.31807,11.32926
Latest update: May 12, 2025 11:51
Siena is a Tuscan city built on three hills, where medieval streets wind between brick buildings and open onto piazzas. The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo hosts the Palio horse race twice a year and serves as the town's main gathering place. The Cathedral, with its black-and-white marble facade, stands on one of the highest points. From the top of Torre del Mangia, the city spreads out in all directions, with its terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills visible. Gothic and Renaissance architecture appears throughout the streets, in the form of palaces, churches, fountains and loggias. The Palazzo Pubblico contains frescoes and civic art, while the Pinacoteca Nazionale displays paintings from the Sienese School. The Biblioteca Piccolomini holds illuminated manuscripts. The Basilica of San Domenico rises on a hill, offering views across the rooftops. The Fortezza Medicea and the university botanical garden provide additional perspectives on the city and its landscape. Beyond the center, the Etruscan necropolis at Malignano, Villa di Geggiano with its gardens, and the Chianti sculpture park add to the range of places to explore.
Siena Cathedral
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Palazzo Pubblico
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Siena Cathedral
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Piccolomini Library
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Santa Maria della Scala
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Siena Cathedral Pulpit
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Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana del Duomo
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Cathedral - Crypt
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Palazzo Chigi-Saracini
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Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata
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Campanile of the Cathedral of Siena
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Palazzo Reale
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Hôpital Santa Maria della Scala
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Archbishop's Palace
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Palazzo Patrizi
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Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo
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San Sebastiano in Vallepiatta
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Opera delle Metropolitana
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Palazzo Bindi Sergardi
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Torre delle Sette Seghinelle
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San Niccolò in Sasso
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Palazzo Marsili-Libelli
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Palazzo Marsili
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Piccolomini Library
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Museo archeologico nazionale di Siena
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