The Baptistery of St. John, Florence

The Baptistery of St. John is a stunning octagonal basilica that stands next to The Duomo in Florence. It was started in 1059 and completed some 60 years later. The dome itself is a wonderful architectural example, but the decoration/painting/detail are positively breath-taking. To think that this magnificent structure was completed 900 years ago is mind-boggling.

It's under restoration and it's not very clear from the outside or the website just to the extreme extent of the work being done. More than half of it is covered and not viewable at this time. There's no signage to help you understand the importance or history of the space, so you wind up just standing around in the dark for a few minutes. It was a disappointing experience that only receives 3 stars owing to its historical importance and the few parts that were visible.