Pisa Baptistery

About this place

The Pisa Baptistery of Saint John is a Catholic ecclesiastical building in Pisa, Italy. Construction started in 1152 under the direction of Diotisalvi to replace an older baptistery. Completed in 1363 in a Gothic manner, it is part of the architectural ensemble and World Heritage Site of the Piazza dei Miracoli, alongside the Duomo di Pisa, its campanile, the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Camposanto. As you explore, compare the building itself with its decoration and later additions. Differences in materials, forms and imagery can reveal successive periods of patronage, making the visit a way to understand how religious places evolved over time.