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Monument · Parma, Emília-Romanha
Battistero di Parma
Octagonal baptistery of pink Verona marble, begun in 1196 by Benedetto Antelami. Sculptures of the months and seasons and 13th-century frescoes cover the interior.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Battistero di Parma
The Battistero stands next to the cathedral, in the Piazza Duomo. An inscription on the north portal states that Benedetto Antelami began the work in 1196. The building, with an octagonal plan and clad in pink Verona marble, is seen as a point of transition between Romanesque and Gothic.
On the outside, each side has open galleries on several levels, and a band of reliefs with animals, both real and fantastic, runs around the base. The three portals feature sculptures by Antelami himself: the Last Judgment, the childhood of Christ and the legend of Barlaão.
Inside, the space is taller than it appears from outside, with sixteen sides. The statues of the months of the year and of the seasons, attributed to Antelami and his workshop, depict rural tasks such as harvesting and grape-picking. The dome and walls contain 13th-century frescoes with saints, prophets and biblical scenes. In the centre stands the octagonal baptismal font used for baptism by immersion.
Tickets are sold together with the Museo Diocesano, which is in the same square and houses pieces from the city's churches.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
30 to 40 minutes. Add 30 minutes for the Museo Diocesano.
Best time
Mid-morning or late afternoon, when the light brings out the pink color of the marble on the exterior. Check opening times before you go.
How to get there
It is on the Piazza Duomo, next to the cathedral, about a 15-minute walk from Parma station.
Tip
Look inside for the statues of the months: each one shows the rural work for that time of year. The ticket is usually purchased at the Museo Diocesano in the same square.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Battistero di Parma
Who designed the Battistero?
Benedetto Antelami, sculptor and architect, who began the work in 1196, according to the inscription on the north portal.
Why is the marble pink?
The Battistero is clad in pink Verona marble, a stone widely used in northern Italian architecture in the Middle Ages.
Where do you buy the ticket?
Usually at the Museo Diocesano in Piazza Duomo, with a ticket that includes the Battistero and the museum.