The large baptismal font
In the centre of the building, elevated on two steps, stands the large, octagonal baptismal font. It is a huge monolith in red and white Verona marble. The celebrants stood in the central basin shaped as a four-leaf clover, and the godfathers and godmothers handed them the baby to be baptized by immersion. The baby was then returned to them and taken to the altar for anointing with the chrism.

The small baptismal font
Another small font is located in the south-west niche. Also in Verona marble and attributed to Antelami, it used to stand in the Cathedral: this font was used before the Baptistery was built. It was part of Antelami’s first work in the Cathedral, which we can date from his Deposition, created in April 1178. The fresco on the rear wall documents the use of this smaller baptismal font.

The altar
On the front of the altar we see a sculpture depicting a Levite, John the Baptist and a priest. The Levite, on the right, points to John the Baptist with one hand and holds a book in the other. In the centre John, dressed in camel’s hair, holds his hand open towards the priest. The latter, with his arm extended upwards, seems to point to the Eucharist on the altar.