Pisa - Baptistry

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible.

The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before.

The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m.

Standing on the surrounding gallery offers a brilliant view onto the many Romanesque carvings. Here are hunting scenes. To the very right a large bear (?) with two cubs. To the very left a hunter carries a huge hare. Hares must have had a certain meaning, I remember a similar one from Girona.