About
The Pisa Baptistery, known in Italian as the Battistero di San Giovanni, stands in the Piazza del Duomo, the same square that holds the cathedral and the famous leaning tower. It is the largest baptistery in Italy, and its round form makes it easy to spot among the white marble buildings of the square.
What to see
Work on the building began in 1152. Its architecture blends two styles: the rounded arches and solid forms of the Romanesque, and the lighter, more vertical lines of the Gothic. Walking around the outside, you can see how the two meet over the centuries of its construction.
The baptistery is especially known for its acoustics. Guides often demonstrate the echo and the way a single sung note seems to hang in the air under the dome. Even if you are not visiting for music, it is a memorable part of the experience.
Planning your visit
- Location: Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
- Best paired with: the cathedral and the leaning tower, all within the same square
- Contact: +39 050 835011
Because the monuments of the square are close together, many visitors see the baptistery as part of a single walk through the Piazza del Duomo. Pisa itself is a compact city on the Arno river, and its old streets offer cafés and quieter corners once the crowds around the square thin out.
