The Baptistery in Pisa

The actual building of the Baptistery began in 1153. It was the second structure to be erected on the Campo, but was not completed for over 200 years.

The first architect was Diotisalvi, a somewhat enigmatic figure whose name translates roughly as 'God Save You'. He gave the building its lower Romanesque drum, which was complimented 1277-1297 by other architects the father-son duo of Nicola and Giovanni Pisano.

More time passed before the finishing touch, Cellino di Nese's Gothic dome, was put in place in 1363. The building's circular design is something of a rarity in baptistery architecture, with the majority of its forerunners being octagonal.

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Architecture and design of the Baptistery

Measuring a staggering 107 m (351 ft) in circumference, and standing even taller than the Leaning Tower, the Baptistery of the Duomo's in Pisa's Field of MIracles is the largest in Italy. Ultimately, it is said it was fashioned to resemble the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Two things occupy your attention when you first enter through the 18-ft-high doors: the first is the sheer size of the interior, which, despite the building's immense outward appearance, still comes as a surprise; and the second is that it is rather sparsely decorated. Its austerity, however, is part of its power, and its monolithic stone pillars do not need embellishment in order to inspire awe.

The Baptitery in the Field of Miracles Pisa

What to see inside

Even so, there are still several intricate architectural feats worthy of close inspection. The most apparent of these is the pulpit, created by Nicola Pisano in 1260. Its depictions of the life of Christ, carvings of Madonna and the evangelists, and lion-shaped pedestals serve to signify the importance of Nicola's work as a precursor to the Renaissance.

The style also inspired his son, who designed the similar-looking effort in the Duomo. Next to the pulpit is the large octagonal font, which was carved and inlaid by Guido Bigarelli da Como in 1246, and later surmounted by Italo Griselli's sublime 20th-century bronze statue of St. John the Baptist. Other favourites with the photograph-hungry tourists include lintels chronicling episodes from the life of the Saint John and a panoply of stained glass windows depicting prominent Biblical figures. Visitors should save some film for the first floor, however, which looks down on the font, and for the trip up to the dome itself, where stunning views across the Duomo, the Leaning Tower, and Pisa itself, await.

The Unseen Attraction

The Baptistery's acoustics, which, due to the interior's unique design and scope, mean that any loud noise reverberates with gusto. These are to be heard and not seen. Depending on your luck, you may encounter an unabashed guard willing to regale patrons with a song demonstrating the dome's sonorous capabilities to the hilt. When a choir performs here, the music can be heard for miles.