Directly opposite the entrance to the cathedral is the Baptistery of St. John, one of Florence’s oldest buildings.
It was built between 1059 and 1128.
The octagonal structure is renowned for the three sets of bronze doors on the northeast and south entrances.
Each set is made up of several panels depicting biblical scenes.
The most famous is the Gates of Paradise on the east side.
The interior of the baptistery is often compared to the Pantheon of Rome, with its ornately decorated walls and marble inlays arranged in geometrical patterns.