Florence Baptistery

The oldest building on the cathedral square

The Battistero di San Giovanni stands opposite the Duomo and ranks among Florence's oldest and most important buildings. The octagonal structure, clad in green-and-white marble, dates in its core to the 11th century and served for centuries as the city's baptistery. Every Florentine was baptised here, including the poet Dante, who mentions the Baptistery in his "Divine Comedy". The building is dedicated to St John the Baptist, the city's patron saint.

Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise

World-famous are the three bronze doors, above all the gilded east portal by Lorenzo Ghiberti, which Michelangelo praised as the "Gate of Paradise". Its ten relief panels depict scenes from the Old Testament in exquisite goldsmith's work. Worth knowing: the panels on the building today are faithful copies. The restored originals of all three doors are on display at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in the Sala del Paradiso - anyone wanting to see the genuine reliefs up close should factor in a visit to the Cathedral Museum.

The golden mosaic ceiling, not visible in 2026

The interior is normally crowned by a magnificent gold-ground mosaic ceiling depicting the Last Judgement above the octagonal space, one of Italy's most significant Byzantine-influenced mosaic works. Right now, however, the vault is covered for restoration and cannot be seen in 2026. This is the key thing to know before visiting: without the mosaics, the interior offers mainly the architecture, the marble floor, and Donatello's tomb of the antipope John XXIII. Check the official website for the latest status before you go.

Tickets and visiting

The Baptistery cannot be booked separately, it's only accessible as part of an Opera del Duomo combined pass. Three passes include it:

• Ghiberti Pass - €15 (reduced €5, ages 7-14): Cathedral Museum, Baptistery, Santa Reparata. The cheapest way in.
• Giotto Pass - €20 (reduced €7): adds the Campanile.
• Brunelleschi Pass - €30 (reduced €12): all the monuments, including the climb up the cathedral dome.

Children under 7 enter free. The reduced Ghiberti Pass rate for students is only available at the ticket office on site. Without the mosaics on view, a visit takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Since entry is tied to a timed pass, queues here are rarely long, even so, it's best to arrive right at opening, 8:30, before the cathedral square fills up.

Good to know

• Photography is allowed inside; flash photography is not.
• The Baptistery is wheelchair accessible, with ramps in place. Accessible toilets are located opposite, at Piazza San Giovanni 7.
• Anyone who already has the Baptistery on their pass can easily combine it with the Duomo, Campanile and Cathedral Museum for a full cathedral-square circuit. For how to secure the passes in advance, see the guide Booking tickets.