Although the Baptistery's precise origins remain unclear, its foundations are known to date back to Roman times. The central doors are stunning works of art, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament and they have been called “The Gates of Paradise.” Lorenzo Ghiberti who worked on them from 1403 to 1424 designed these ornate doors. Inside, the octagonal structure is richly decorated with Roman columns and gilded column heads. The floor's marble inlay features Islamic-style patterns and the apse is decorated with 13th-century mosaics. Coppo di Marcovaldo and Cimabue were among those involved in the cupola's decorative mosaic work. As tempted as you may be to add to that vacation footage, keep the video camera in the case—they're not permitted here. Check your dress before you go, and make sure you have on the right attire—there are certain clothing requirements here.

Such a beautiful Baptistery. The marble facade and the mosaic ceiling are extremely beautiful. It also have beautiful bronze doors. It is a must see attraction in Florence and it is right next to the Duomo cathedral. The whole square is beautiful and full of touristic attractions.

Go look at the golden painted doors telling interesting stories. The actual doors are in the museum so what you see at the baptistery is replica. The interior is undergoing renovation which is a big disappointment when we visit. I visited 5 years ago and recalled how impressive the interior is.

Very lovely cathedral, clock tower and chapel, it’s very beautiful and has very lovely architecture and interior. Was definitely worth the visit, I would recommend checking out the church and going up to the rooftop if it’s open. It’s definitely worth the visit.

The guide explained that the Italian church is always accompanied by the tower and the baptistery. I heard their ceiling paintings are magnificent but it was under repair when I visited.

Disappointed not to be able to see the dome since it's being renovated at present but that's the loveliest bit of building screening I've ever seen covering it up. Perhaps they could temporarily lower the price of the combined ticket entrance to reflect this - oh, hold on, it's gone up another euro this year... Still, no queue, and you get to look at the reproduction doors as much as you like (originals in the museum and they are magnificent). They did tell us work was being done to be fair though so I can't be too dismissive.

The Baptistery of St. John is a stunning octagonal basilica that stands next to The Duomo in Florence. It was started in 1059 and completed some 60 years later. The dome itself is a wonderful architectural example, but the decoration/painting/detail are positively breath-taking. To think that this magnificent structure was completed 900 years ago is mind-boggling.

Amazing exterior and colours. Perfect for photoshoots. 5.30AM-7AM is the best time to visit for phototaking with little to no crowd and the epic sunrise golden shimmers.

Amazing exterior and I would say that with the paint and color of the church, it appears differently in photos, like a drawing coming into life. Definitely a work of art. This is a good spot to start your travel around the town center

An amazing temple. Beautiful inside. Can't wait until the renovation is over so we can see it in all its splendor.

Amazing baptistery! It's supposed to be the oldest religious site in Florence as well. It has some great sculptures and artwork. Some of the original artifacts are actually kept in the museum nearby. If you get a combo pass like the Ghiberti Pass then you can visit the museum also.

The octagonal Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of St. John) is one of the oldest buildings in Florence. It is located opposite the Duomo Cathedral (full name Santa Maria del Fiore) and Giotto's bell tower. This fascinating structure, combining faith, history and art, delights us with its harmony in accordance with the Duomo and Giotto's tower. It was built between the 11th and 12th centuries, and it was there until the end of the 19th century that all Florentine Catholics were baptized, like Dante Alighieri, and many famous Renaissance figures, including members of the Medici family. According to the style of construction it belongs to Florentine Romanesque architecture. Of her beauties, we would single out three front doors that show a biblical theme - the south door was made by Andrea Pisano, north and east by Lorenzo Ghiberti. For the east door Michelangelo used the term "Gate of Paradise". There is a copy today, while the original is kept in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. The gates of Paradise consist of 10 fields, depicting the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, as Moses receives the 10 Commandments of God, until the fall of the city of Jericho and the battle with the Philistines. The interior of the Baptistery is richly decorated, the ceiling is decorated with a beautiful mosaic of gold, one part of which depicts the Last Judgment, which had a great influence on Dante when writing his Divine Comedy.

Unique aesthetic on the outside, and intricate ceiling on the inside. It was smaller than I anticipated and we didn’t spend long, but it was beautiful to admire. We visited in the afternoon and didn’t have to wait to get in.

Magnificent baptistery just in front of the most beautiful cathedrals I have ever seen. The architecture is so atypical with awesome colours. This is a must see attraction in Florence!

You have to pay to go in. I heard from others? Although the interior is good but it's not worth the money. Stunning from the outside. Located in city center

Obviously very beautiful, but unfortunately the complete ceiling decoration is undergoing renovation at the end of January 2024. All is covered with a replica cover. Still detailed images and explanation are on the scaffolding in the centre of the baptistery. The interior outer walls are fully visible though.

Cool doors, do read up on them before coming by. The building was closed when we arrived (midday on a Tuesday in October2021) so couldn't take a peak inside

Visiting the Baptistery was a little bit disappointing because it was under repair and we couldn't see the amazing dom decoration and paintings however we will give it another try for sure when the repair finishes.

Unfrotunately seeling was in rennovation altough Doors was a real piece of art! You need to see to belive in all those details

I came across the Baptistery of St. John by accident when I was wandering and exploring Florence/Firenze and it caught me by surprise. The shape of the building was unique as well as the colour scheme. It is a majestic building when standing up close. As it is located in an open square it is a must photo opportunity. It is located within walking distance of the main rail station Firenze Santa Maria Novella, so if you are staying in Rome you can get there with the fast train in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

While I was visiting Florence it was under restoration work, however by booking you could have a guidate visit and climb the scaffolding. Unforgettable experience

Following steps of Dan's Brown Inferno we had to go in! Buying tickets online can be tricky ( as it's only first Tuesday of the month) it's worth going to ticket office on the side of Duomo and purchase it there. For price of 15€ you can visit Baptistery, underground of Duomo and Duomo museum. Completly worth it. Also have a look on golden doors. Each tells different biblical story.

Together with the duomo this is a *must* see, and don’t think you can just see the photos, no camera can really do the ceiling justice. I’d recommend coming early so you have some room to move around and look at the ceiling from different angles.

If there's a long line I would avoid. Although the architecture and paintings are nice it's not worth a long wait. Theres currently a lot of repair work going on so the ceilings are not fully visible. The baptistery in Pisa was far more impressive.

It's under restoration and it's not very clear from the outside or the website just to the extreme extent of the work being done. More than half of it is covered and not viewable at this time. There's no signage to help you understand the importance or history of the space, so you wind up just standing around in the dark for a few minutes. It was a disappointing experience that only receives 3 stars owing to its historical importance and the few parts that were visible.

The Baptistery of John is part of a Brunelleschi Pass which costs €30. The pass can be purchased online. It contains access to the doom, cathedral, Baptistery of San Giovanni, Giotto's Bell Tower, Opera del Duomo Museum and the ancient crypt of Santa Reparata. You do not need to book in advance and the queue was not that long. A beautiful church to visit with a number of frescoes and marble columns. The church is open from 11:15 to 18:00pm

Minor basilica next to Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral. Outstanding mosaic ceiling inside the chapel is a true masterpiece. The place itself is pretty crowded during high season. You can get ticket for 20€ including entrance to the baptistery, bell tower, museum and Il Duomo crypt (4 in 1 combined). Max 5-10 minutes waiting in the queue.

Small and peaceful interior with stunning frescoes... prettier on the outside in my opinion, with the stunning relief work doors.