Battistero di San Giovanni in Corte

The Baptistery of San Giovanni in Corte is Pistoia's octagonal Gothic building in Piazza del Duomo. White and green stone cladding gives its faceted exterior a distinct relationship with the cathedral square.

Why it matters

The baptistery expresses the importance of baptism in the medieval city through a separate monumental building. Its font predates the surviving Gothic structure, linking the later architecture with an earlier phase of worship.

What to notice

Alternating colours, gables and pinnacles articulate the exterior's eight sides. Inside, the baptismal font carries the date 1226 and the name Lanfranco da Como, brought to light during restoration in 1975. The contrast between the font and its architectural setting distinguishes different periods within the monument.

Context and history

The baptistery occupies the site of the earlier church of Santa Maria in Corte, from which it inherited part of its name. Work towards the present building began in 1301 and continued during the fourteenth century. Its Gothic form and older font contribute different layers to the religious history of Piazza del Duomo, alongside the cathedral and bell tower.