Florence - Baptistery & Campanile
Day 11, 12 & 13 Exploring Florence Baptistery of San Giovanni & Florentine Campanile "My Beautiful San Giovanni!" It was 753 years ago that Dante Alighieri wrote of his baptism in Florence's beloved baptistery. He was not the only famous Florentine to be baptized here. Navigator America Vespuci, historian and poet Niccolo Machiavelli and Grand Duke Cosimo l de Medici were baptized here. In fact, until the end of the 1800's, the baptisms of all Florentines took place under the golden dome. Proudly standing on a podium right in front of the cathedral is Florence's famous baptistery. Believed to be built over the ruins of a Roman temple dedicated to Mars back in the 4th-5th century A.D., it was consecrated as the baptistery in 1128, making it the oldest religious monument in Florence. Today, only young children can be baptized here. The Baptistery, dedicated to Florence's patron saint, John the Baptist, ha...