Consecrated in 1059 CE, Florence Baptistry is nearly a millennium old and has always been the heart of Florentine society and tradition. The building is dedicated – as all baptistries are – to St. John the Baptist, who also happens to be the patron saint of Florence. While the exterior of the Romanesque-style structure is covered with white and green marble revetment, the interior contains breathtaking mosaics that decorate the entirety of the ceiling. Epic in scale and subject matter, and excruciatingly meticulous in execution, the beautiful mosaics represent one of the greatest works of art of medieval Europe and inspired both Dante and Michelangelo. Buona visita!