Baptistery of St. John in Pisa

Fun Facts

• • A mysterious and undeciphered inscription remains etched into the stone near the entrance, continuing to baffle historians and epigraphers.
• • It holds the prestigious title of being the largest baptistery in Italy and indeed the world.
• • Many original sculptures by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano were removed during a controversial nineteenth century restoration but are now safely preserved in the nearby Museum of the Opera del Duomo.
• • Originally, the dome had an open oculus at the summit which allowed direct light and rainwater to enter the baptismal font, though this was later enclosed.
• • The acoustics of the building are so precise that a skilled guide can demonstrate a multi part harmony by singing single notes at specific intervals.
• • The building suffers from a slight tilt, a structural quirk it shares with its famous neighbor, the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• • The dome utilizes a clever dual roof system, featuring a conical inner roof and a hemispherical outer one to manage the weight and aesthetic requirements of the time.
• • The interior design was explicitly modeled after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to create a physical and spiritual link to the Holy Land.
• • The pulpit inside is considered a vital bridge to the Renaissance, as it famously features a depiction of a nude Hercules, signaling a return to classical artistic forms.
• • The roof is covered in two different materials, with red tiles facing the sea and lead sheets covering the side facing the rising sun, likely due to varying budgets or weather exposure.
• • The structure was built to replace an older, smaller baptistery that once stood exactly where the monumental cemetery known as the Camposanto is located today.