Battistero di San Giovanni (Saint John’s Baptistry), Siena

Located in Saint John’s Square behind Siena Cathedral, Saint John’s Baptistry is one of the most important buildings in the cathedral complex. It was constructed between 1316 and 1325. Its Gothic façade remains unfinished in the upper section, but the restrained exterior gives little indication of the rich decoration within.

Inside, the walls, vaults, and apse are covered with elaborate frescoes that create a colorful and intimate atmosphere. Many were painted by the Sienese artist Vecchietta, including scenes of the Flagellation and the Road to Calvary in the apse.

The principal masterpiece is the monumental baptismal font, created between 1417 and 1430 from marble, bronze, and vitreous enamel. Considered one of the earliest masterpieces of Florentine Renaissance sculpture, it brought together some of the leading artists of the period. Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello, Giovanni di Turino, and Jacopo della Quercia contributed bronze reliefs and sculptural decoration depicting episodes from the life of Saint John the Baptist.

Jacopo della Quercia designed the marble shrine surrounding the font and created one of the five prophets placed in its niches, while the others were executed by contemporary artists. Della Quercia also sculpted the statue of Saint John the Baptist crowning the structure. Donatello’s dramatic Feast of Herod is especially notable for its innovative use of perspective and emotional intensity.

Although smaller than the cathedral, the baptistry contains an exceptional concentration of Gothic and Renaissance art.