If you are on vacations in Tuscany and you happen to have rented a villa near Pisa, a visit to the most famous leaning tower in the world is a must.

Just a few metres from the Tower lies another building that boasts an important record. It is the Baptistery entitled to Saint John, the largest baptistery in Italy.

The building was begun in 1152 thanks to the contribution of over 30,000 Pisan families. Built in the same style as the adjacent Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Saint Mary of the Assumption), the Baptistery was finished only 200 years later, at mid-14th century. Diotisalvi, the Pisano brothers and Cellino di Nese directed the works in the course of the centuries.

The Baptistery has a circumference of 107 metres, and is about 55 metres tall - without taking into account the statue on the top of the dome. Its internal diameter measures slightly more than 35 metres.

Like any jewel casket, it houses three astonishing treasures:

• at the centre stands an octagonal baptismal font by Guido Bigarelli da Como (1246);

• on the left of the altar is a hexagonal pulpit resting on seven columns. The pulpit was sculpted by Nicola Pisano (1260);

• last but not least, the Baptistery has excellent acoustics, which was probably studied in order to exalt the chants that were sung during the services.

Like the Leaning Tower and the Cathedral, the Baptistery stands clearly out in Pisa skyline. Its bulk towers over the Pisan houses and villas in the quarter of Santa Maria.