Scaffolding operations began last week at the Baptistery of Florence to get the monument ready for restoration work planned on the eight external facades.
The restoration is entirely financed by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, the institution that safeguards the Duomo complex, and is set to conclude in the summer of 2015.
The project, which has a cost of 1.8 million euros, will eliminate deposits of pollutants and help consolidate the marble elements.
During this preparatory phase, expected to last 30 days, temporary closures to the public may be necessary for safety reasons.
The last restoration carried out at the Baptistery was 70 years ago. The Florence Baptistery is one of the oldest buildings in the city, constructed between 1059 and 1128. It is renowned for its bronze doors and is part of the so-called Duomo complex, which includes the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence's Cathedral) and Giotto's Campanile.
