The Saint John Baptist Church in Signa

The Saint John Baptist Church was built between VII-th and IX-th centuries.

It had an important role in Signa because it was the only one place where was administered the Christian Sacrament of the Baptism as testified in an official document of that time and according to that document there was a fountain near the church up to 1724.

The Saint John Baptist Church was modified during eighteenth century by building of a chapel entitled to Our Lady that was embellished by several paints by Pillori, Paci and Giarrè.

The building was entirely enlarged by adding a laterl portal surmounted by the ensign of the Municipality of Signa.

The Saint John Baptist Church shows a Roman stone-made facade.

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Entering the church it is possible to admire a great middle window portraying a picture of the Blessed Giovanna and at the beginning of the left aisle it is possible to see a stone-made bass-relief made by Giuseppe Santelli portraying Saint Anthony from Padua.

The Saint John Baptist Church is also known with the name of Blessed because it saves the reliquis of Blessed Giovanna, potectress of the town of Signa.

Close to the main altar it is placed a chapel where it is possible to admire a series of fourteenth-century frescoes portraying some scenes of the Blessed Giovanna's life.

In the right aisle it is placed a chapel hosting a stone-made tabernacle and a marble-made baptismal font made in 1480 by Gangalandi.

Inside the Saint John Baptist Church it is possible adimire a copy of the statue portraying Saint John Baptist made by the Manufacture of Signa. The original statue made by Benedetto da Maiano (1442-1497) is today preserved in Florence in the "Hall of the Lills" of Palazzo Vecchio.

On the left side of the Saint John Baptist Church it is possible to see an open gallery built in 1724, whose rooms were used to host the celebrations taking place in the honour of the potectress.