Battistero

Lonely Planet review

The unusual round battistero has one dome piled on top of another, each roofed half in lead, half in tiles, and is topped by a gilt bronze John the Baptist (1395). It was started in 1153 by Diotisalvi, notably remodelled and continued by Nicola Pisano and son Giovanni more than a century later and finally completed in the 14th century - hence its hybrid architectural style.

The lower level of arcades is Pisan-Romanesque, while the pinnacled upper section and dome are Gothic. Inside, the beautiful hexagonal pulpit (compare it with Giovanni's notably more ornate one in the cathedral) carved by Nicola Pisano in 1260 is the undisputable highlight. Inspired by Roman art, Pisano used sarcophagi from Pisa's Camposanto as models for his powerfully nude Hercules - Christian fortification personified inspiration - and other strong allegorical figures. Five panels on the pulpit illustrate Christ's life. Don't leave the baptistry without (a) admiring the Islamic floor, (b) climbing up to the gallery for a stunning overview and (c) risking a whisper and listening to it resound. Alternatively, the custodian demonstrates the double dome's remarkable acoustics and echo effects every half-hour.