San Giovanni in Corte Baptistery, Gothic baptistery in Piazza del Duomo, Pistoia, Italy
San Giovanni in Corte Baptistery is an octagonal building clad in white and green marble from Siena, Prato, and Carrara, positioned in the cathedral square. Inside, visitors find the baptismal font and can access the chamber where the Silver Altar of San Jacopo is displayed.
Construction began in 1301 on the foundations of the earlier Santa Maria in Corte church and was completed in 1361. This rebuilding represented an important urban development that shaped the cathedral square as it appears today.
The baptismal font created by Lanfranco da Como in 1226 displays four smaller basins decorated with delicate floral carvings that reveal the skill of medieval craftsmen. Visitors who look closely at these basins can appreciate the level of detail that artisans invested in this sacred object.
The building is easy to find in the cathedral square and stands close to other religious structures in the city center. The interior is compact, so visitors may need to wait for less crowded moments if they want to study the baptismal font and other details carefully.
The main entrance features carved stone panels showing John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, and Saint Peter in remarkable detail. Visitors often focus on the interior and miss these sculptural elements above the doorway, which showcase the craftsmanship of 14th-century artisans.
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