Baptistery of Parma, Religious baptistery in Parma, Italy
The Baptistery of Parma is an octagonal building made of pink Verona marble in the city of Parma. The structure displays four levels of open loggias and eight turrets that surround a central dome, giving the building a vertical rhythm.
Construction started in 1196 under architect Benedetto Antelami, with local citizens donating stones for the foundation. Completion stretched over decades, during which Romanesque elements were supplemented with Gothic details.
The name refers to a place where the sacrament was performed by immersion since the 13th century, a rare practice in medieval Italy. Today visitors examine the reliefs on the outer walls showing sea creatures and mythological figures, revealing how religion and nature were connected in the minds of the people.
Access is through an outdoor stairway that leads directly to the main door and offers a view of the carved portals. Inside, it is worth looking up to see the painted vaults and the arrangement of the frescoes.
The Portal of Life features a lunette sculpture depicting a man eating honey in a tree, a rare motif linking natural and spiritual nourishment. This image recalls how medieval artists used everyday actions to make theological concepts visible.
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