Visitors to Florence can now enjoy a partially restored Baptistery in piazza del Duomo. Scaffolding has been removed as all eight internal facades of the 12th-century sacred site go back to being displayed in their full glory.
Managed and financed by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, the cathedral’s governing body, to the tune of 2.6 million euro, with a generous donation from theAmerican non-profit Friends of Florence, the interior of the Baptistery was restored under the guidance of the Department of Fine Arts, Archaeology and Landscape, and in partnership with top Italian universities and specialist laboratories for the diagnostics. The restoration began in late 2017 and was put on hold several times due to the pandemic.
A special site will be erected this autumn in order to commence the massive restoration of the mosaics on the Baptistery’s dome, while also enabling Florence lovers to view the unique architecture feature up close.
“The new site for the restoration of the dome will consist of a central column, supported from the ground, and horizontal structures positioned about 15 metres from the ground,” commented Samuele Caciagli, architect of Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore. “Starting with the base of the dome, the scaffolding will be structured across the entire parameter and it will be raised up to cover all of the surfaces involved in the restoration campaign.”
About the Baptistery
The Baptistery can be visited at the same time as the Opera del Duomo Museum with a single ticket that covers entrance to both monuments.
