Studying Art History's 'Secrets' Up Close

Before coming to study in Florence, I knew that a large part of my studies here as a history major would focus on the art, architecture, and the history of Florence.  What came as an exciting surprise to me is how these topics are introduced to us in our everyday classes. In my art history class, Iconography: The Secret Language of Italian Renaissance Art, taught by Dr. Angela Oberer, we take weekly trips outside of the classroom to on site locations, where we  see and experience firsthand the artworks we are studying. One particular visit to the Battistero di San Giovanni, or Florence Baptistery, reinforced what an amazing experience studying in Florence is.


The Baptistery is located directly in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (more commonly known as the Duomo) and is one of the oldest and most important monuments in Florence. Built around 1059, this Romanesque style structure was where, up until the 19th century, all Catholic Florentines were baptized, including members of the Medici family and Dante Alighieri. It is famous not only for its beautiful exterior, including Lorenzo Ghiberti's bronze doors, but for its breathtaking interior as well.