battistero

A battistero (baptistery) is a Christian building or room set apart from a church for the rite of baptism. It often stands adjacent to a cathedral or main church, and serves as the place where baptism is administered, historically to new believers or infants. The design usually emphasizes the baptismal font, the central feature of the rite.

Architectural forms vary. The most common plan is octagonal, reflecting symbolic associations with resurrection and new life; circular plans are also found, notably the Battistero di San Giovanni in Pisa. Exteriors may be richly ornamented, and interiors feature mosaics, frescoes, sculpture, and a dome or cupola above the font.

Historically, baptisteries appeared in late antique and medieval Europe as the locus of baptism within Christian communities. They are often built as standalone structures or as annexes to cathedrals, reflecting the special catechetical and liturgical function of baptism.

Notable examples in Italy include the Battistero di San Giovanni in Florence, known for its bronze doors by Ghiberti, sometimes called the Gates of Paradise. The Battistero di San Giovanni in Pisa is a circular building from the 12th century with notable sculpture by Nicola Pisano. In Ravenna, the Battistero Neoniano and the Battistero degli Ariani preserve early Christian mosaics.

Today battisteri remain important historical and artistic sites. Some continue to be used for baptisms, while others serve as museums or monuments. They offer insights into early Christian liturgy, architectural innovation, and the regional variation of baptismal rites.