Floence Baptistery is the site of one of the most famous works of art in Italy, if not the entire world,
Lorenzo Ghiberti's gilded bronze doors, on the East side of the Baptistery facing the front of the Cathedral.
Ghiberti's East doors (1425-52), are frequently called the "Gates of Paradise", a name given them by Michelangelo.

For the past 25+ years, Ghiberti's original gilded bronze doors have been under a major restoration,
due to the ravages of age and time, culminating with the Florentine flood of 1966,which tore off several of the
lower panels on the doors.

Ghiberti's original doors on the East side of the Baptistery have been replaced by copies for tourists to view.
The restoration of the orginal doors has now been completed, and the doors have been reassembled,
and displayed for a couple of years in a climate controlled environment in the old Museo del DUomo,
The doors will be installed for view in a new Museo del Duomo due to open in late 2015.

Ghiberti also made an earlier set of doors, now on the North side of the Baptistery .
A third set of bronze doors on the South side of the Baptistery was made by Andrea Pisano in the early 1400's

The Baptistery has a vague history, but it is known to have been built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to the Roman god Mars.
The Baptistery shown here, shrouded in its reconstruction garment, was consecrated in 1059.
Other images (including Ghiberti's original doors, now restored and reconstructed), can be seen on my other Florence galleries.