Battistero di Parma

Battistero di Parma

Battistero di Parma
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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  • Ingeborg56
    Oslo, Norway2,402 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Recommend a visit!
    It was a bit difficult to find, and one has to buy tickets on the other side of the square. It is not very big, but very interesting and unusual with sculptures which symbol all months and lots of small paintings on the walls behind. I do not think I have ever seen anything like this, - neither exterior and interior. I recommend everyone to visit the museum where you buy the tickets because then one can watch a movie in Italian with English subtitles about Battistero di Parma's sculpures etc.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 28, 2024
  • 5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Masterpiece between Romanesque and Gothic
    Considered one of the greatest examples of medieval architecture, built between the 12th and 13th centuries based on a design by Benedetto Antelami, it marks the transition from Romanesque to Gothic art. In the traditional octagonal structure, built in precious red Verona marble, the marvelous four portals stand out, richly decorated and sculpted with sacred stories linked to the Christian faith, and the uninterrupted series of tiles with the Zoophorus. The interior is an explosion of colours, the fantastic frescoes that cover the dome and the walls, in addition to the biblical stories and characters, also show the cycle of months, seasons and zodiac signs. In the center there is the large and ancient baptismal font where people were baptized by immersion, while another baptismal font is visible in one of the niches. The ticket can be purchased in a shop located on the opposite side of the baptistery, in the north-west corner of the square. With the exception of children under 13, it costs 12 euros for an individual visit but there are discounts for families, students and other categories.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written May 16, 2024
  • Brontolo2018
    Abruzzo, Italy5,545 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful!
    Beautiful on the outside with its characteristic octagonal shape, but even better on the inside with the splendid dome and the walls beautifully frescoed and filled with bright colors. In the center the baptismal font. To find out the rest it is worth buying the entrance ticket 12 euros (well spent). Don't miss it!
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 17, 2024
  • David B
    El Barco de Avila, Spain706 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unique building with wonderful frescoes
    A spectacular Building with fantastic frescoes and statues. Your entry ticket includes access to the Diocesan Museum which contains architectural remains from the cathedral as well as information about the Baptistery. It is recommended to see the museum first as it will give you information about the Baptistery, especially the short video about the statues of the months of the year. Once inside the Baptistery the fresco paintings are highly impressive, and although small you will need some time to take it all in.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 27, 2024
  • RonL40
    Utica, New York3,709 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    After the wondrous Cathedral, another marvel. World treasure.
    One would think after viewing the awe-inspiring groups of fresco in the Cathedral that a capacity to be astounded might be spent. Not so. The Baptistery is a wonder... indeed, a baptistry that at least for me, exceeds the majesty of the Florence Baptistery and the beauty of Pisa's Baptistery. The work of the 12th century artist, Benedetto Antelami, the building combines several arts -- sculpture, painting, architecture -- producing a treasure. Before you enter the octagonal building, walk around to notice the portals, all decorated with sculpture: The Redeemer, Josaphat and Barlaam, the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Tree of Jesse. Along the entire octagon's length, there is a frieze of animals, some mythological, some actual, some fantastic... 75 in all... marine monsters, centaurs, sirens, unicorns, basilisks, griffons, dogs, birds, horses and human figures. And the four virtues (Chastity, Charity, Faith and Hope). Inside the Baptistery, an explosion of frescoes. More than fifty individual paintings. On the cupola dome (a surprise in itself), there is a division into sixteen concentric bands, each band containing at least three paintings: saints, prophets, scenes from the Life of Christ. Breathtaking. And on the ground level, inside the octagonal walls, the famous sculptures of the Months and Seasons. The overall impact: simply to marvel at the possibility of art.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 29, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,981 reviews
Excellent
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501
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123
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Terrible
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Vicky Silve
Abbadia Lariana, Italy684 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
Which makes this Baptistery famous are the statues by Benedetto Antelami representing the cycle of agricultural work through the months of the year; every month is associated to a Zodiac sign. The frescoes on the walls are also remarkable. You can visit the Baptistery thanks to a combo tickets which includes the Diocesan Museum too.
Written November 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ali_and_Andy
Lewes, East Sussex UK311 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Breathtaking, truly stunning building.
Buy tickets from the Ticket Office diagonally opposite across the square, and this gets you in to the museum (at the ticket office) as well. Some people may think it is too expensive, but honestly you are contributing towards the upkeep of this beautiful place so don't judge it on £££
Written August 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ginsengNewYork
New York City, NY1,312 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
This octagonal baptistry in pale pink marble, is well worth the detour and the price ( ticket is to be purchased at the Diocesan museum right across the plaza). Built during the transition from Romanesque to early Gothic architecture, its interior includes 4 tiers of open loggias with architraved portals covered with frescoes.depicting biblical scenes. The somptuous cupola, umbrella like, is divided into 6 concentric horizontal bands: the 1st one is about Abraham; the 2nd one about John the Baptist; the 3rd one depicts Christ with the Virgin and prophets; the 4th and 5th ones, I forgot about...
My favorite portal is that of the Redeemer flanked by two jambs showing the works of mercy and the 6 ages of man.
But what I liked most were the reliefs depicting the months of the year and their zodiac signs !
Written September 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alberto S
Livorno, Italy25 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Couples
Interesting architecture, unusual, excellent preservation. The interior and exterior sculptures are of the highest quality. Absurd ticket price: the average tourist can stay there five, ten minutes because for him twelfth century or thirteenth, nineteenth or fifteenth are the same thing, so he will experience the visit as a scam. My wife and I are not average tourists - for example, we stayed at the Lombardi museum for four hours, at the Pilotta from nine to seventeen and so we usually do in places that deserve a long stay - but we could not stay more than half an hour inside, even dragging it out. When you have observed the sculptures, which surpass in beauty and interest the frescoes which did not seem amazing to us, for a few minutes, what do you do? Well, since the ticket includes a visit to the diocesan museum (can a room with some sculptures be called a museum?) we enter hopefully; hope which is followed by a desolate disappointment because the sculptures present are very beautiful but are very few and then ends there. And this for twelve euros! I would like to ask the diocese: what justifies this figure?
Automatically translated
Written January 5, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

david B
Tring, UK89 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
Certainly worth a visit. Something a bit out of the ordinary. Since the cathedral itself is free entry the price is not too bad. Some reviews criticise the fact that the admission is a package for the museum and the Battistero but the museum provides the background and explanation for the site itself - plus some other interesting bits. Treat them as a whole rather than two sites. Shame the staff in the baptistery seem so uninterested in the building they are hosting. The lady at the museum was rather more welcoming.
Written April 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tovel 1
Artegna, Italy1,718 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
The thing that leaves you amazed is the extraordinary modernity of this building, the perfection of its shapes and the light pink color of the marble with which it was built. If you look closely, you are surprised by the perfection with which the marble blocks were cut and how they were assembled. It could be the work of a modern architect who, however, would have infinitely superior means at his disposal.
Google
Written November 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nunzia
Cava De' Tirreni, Italy23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Extraordinary masterpiece by Antelami where Romanesque meets the first Gothic forms. The quatrefoil baptismal font in the center is unique, inserted into an octagonal one. The sculptures of the months and the zodiac are very beautiful and have been moved from their original position and brought down where it is possible to observe them very closely. The exterior of the monument also deserves special attention.
Google
Written August 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jvlseattle
Foligno, Italy85 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
We spent a lot of time here. So much to take in from a number of time periods. The baptistry was built between 1196 and 1216. The frescoes and friezes combine harmoniously and really bring the subjects to life. The cupola frescoes are from the 13th century It is mesmerizing to look up at them. You do have to purchase your ticket at the Diocesan museum across the piazza. During this visit we did not have time to see both, but the admission price was worth it just to see the Baptistry. Next time we will see both.
Written August 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Spectacle64
Yorkshire, UK512 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
A "must see" in Parma but complicated to get tickets from tourism office. Then it is "just" the one (amazing) room. Once your neck aches looking up you leave and think - that was impressive but not sure it was worth the money! But pleased I have been...
Written August 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mairwen1
United Kingdom12,096 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019
The Baptistery was closed when we were there. I'm not sure whether it was because of renovations or just bad timing. In any case, we only saw it from the outside. Having said that, the outside is lovely and the very beautiful Cathedral is conveniently right next door and was open all day. The whole piazza is so beautiful - its not tone missed.
The Baptistery has a classic octagon shape (like the one in Florence) and is very pretty with soft blush pink Veronese marble contrasting with white marble.
It was built in the 1190s - it's quite incredible to stand in front of it and think of the manpower and hours of labour that must have gone into it.
The outside was covered by some scaffolding when we were there in May which meant that our photos weren’t the best but then again, you can’t really complain when 800+ year old buildings need some upkeep from time to time.
The decorated arches of the doorways and portals were not covered so you could see them clearly. The portal looking out towards the piazza was the most significant one and was the one where the Bishop traditionally made his solemn entrance (pilgrims used the other doorways). Above the bishop’s door is the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. She is sitting about a row of waves that represent the water used in baptism to wash away sin.
A series of small panels running around the baptistery walls caught my eye. You can see them easily because they are quite low down, only about 2m above the ground. We couldn't see them all but in total there are 75 and each one has a different image of a mythical creature, an animal or a human, including mermaids, centaurs, unicorns, basilisks, harpy, griffons, birds, a donkey. It wasn't clear why a mermaid or a unicorn would be on a church was but they were intriguing.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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