Baptistery of San Giovanni, Volterra explained

Building Name:Baptistery of San Giovanni (Volterra)
Location:Volterra, Italy
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic
Architecture:yes
Architecture Type:Baptistery
Architecture Style:Early-Renaissance
Groundbreaking:13th century

The Baptistery of San Giovanni an octagonal thirteenth-century religious building standing just in front of the Duomo of Volterra, in the center of the city. It was supposedly first built in the seventh century at the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Sun worship.[1]

The façade is decorated with horizontal bands of white and dark green marble.[2] The Romanesque Portal has been attributed to a follower of Nicola Pisano.[3] The sixteenth-century altar inside has been assigned to Balsimelli da Settignano, using a design by Mino da Fiesole. It has a painting (partially damaged during World War Two of the Assumption of the Virgin by Niccolò Circignani. Beside that altar is a marble font (1502) is by Andrea Sansovino. The Ciborium (1471) was completed by Mino da Fiesole. The baptismal font (1759) by Giovanni Vaccà.[4] Above it rises a statue of St John the Baptist (1771) by Giovanni Antonio Cybei. The holy water receptacle is an ancient Roman sarcophagus.

References

43.4017°N 10.8583°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baptistery of San Giovanni - Volterra, Italy . 2023-11-15 . ItalyGuides.it . en-us.
  2. Web site: Cioffi . Paul L. . 1986 . Battistero di San Giovanni, Exterior Baptistery of St. John the Baptist, Exterior . 2023-11-15 . repository.library.georgetown.edu . en.
  3. Web site: Cathedral and Baptistry in Volterra . 2023-11-15 . Volterra, Toscana . en-US.
  4. Web site: THE BAPTISTRY – Operalaboratori . 2023-11-15 . en-US.