Year of Construction: Began in 1196, completed in the 13th century.
Architect: Benedetto Antelami.
Function: Dedicated to St. John the Baptist for the baptismal rite.
Exterior
Style: A combination of Romanesque and Gothic.
Materials: Verona pink marble.
Shape: Octagonal plan, symbolizing regeneration and resurrection.
Exterior Decorations:
Reliefs with biblical scenes, saints, and seasonal cycles.
Scenes from the life of Christ and the Apocalypse above the main portals.
Interior
Dome: Concentric frescoes with Christ Pantocrator in the center.
Decorative Registers:
Paradise and the Last Judgment.
Life of Christ and the Apostles.
Old Testament and symbolism.
Baptismal Font: Made of marble, used for immersion baptisms.
Decorations by Benedetto Antelami
Cycle of the Months with symbolic representations.
Sculpted portals depicting scenes from the Life of Christ.
Symbolic Meaning
The Baptistery of Parma is one of the most significant monuments of European medieval art, thanks to its beauty, Antelami's sculptural mastery, and its harmonious integration of architecture and decoration.
The Baptistery represents Resurrection and the passage to eternal life. The iconography serves as a "book of stone and colors" to instruct the faithful.
Visitor Information
Hours: Open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:30).
Tickets: €12.00 for the Baptistery and the Diocesan Museum.