Baptistry (Pisa)

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The Baptistry, Pisa, Italy, was begun in 1153 and completed in 1363.

The structure is 180 feet high, and 116 feet in diameter. The Baptistry is an example of the transition from the Romanesque style to the Gothic style: the lower registers are in the Romanesque style, with rounded arches, while the upper registers are in the Gothic style, with pointed arches. The Baptistry is constructed of marble, plentiful and often used in Italian architecture.

The Baptistry can be found beside the Cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower. Constructed on the same unstable sand as the Tower, the Baptistry (as well as the Cathedral) leans 0.6 degrees toward the cathedral. Within, a marble pulpit can be found, carved by Nicola Pisano in 1260. The interior is spacious and acoustically perfect.

[edit] Further reading

• Rory Carroll, "Pisa Baptistery is giant musical instrument, computers show,"
• Media on Battistero di Pisa in the Wikicommons.