The Gates of Paradise Baptistery

The Baptistery of San Giovanni (St. John the Baptist) is a real masterpiece of Lorenzo Ghiberti, who created this magnificent creation for 27 years.

The main feature of the baptistery is its gold-covered eastern gate, divided into 10 parts. The paintings on the doors reproduce scenes from the Old Testament. The title "Gate of Paradise" ("Porta del Paradiso") doors were awarded thanks to Michelangelo, who praised the perfection of their execution. Ghiberti made the gate taking into account all the techniques of picturesque relief, which became the starting point for later Renaissance works of this kind. Also in the baptistery are the South and North Gates, made by Andrea Pisano.

In the XIX century, Russian sculptors cast and installed a copy of the “Gate of Paradise” at the northern entrance of the St. Petersburg Kazan Cathedral.