Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista (Church of San Giovanni Battista), Livorno

The Church of San Giovanni Battista in Livorno is a striking example of Baroque-Mannerist architecture. A religious structure had existed on this site since the 13th century when it was overseen by Augustinian priests from the nearby San Jacopo di Aquaviva convent. The current church, however, is largely the result of a 1624 reconstruction led by Giovanni Francesco Cantagallina.

The facade of the church is a unique, somewhat awkward blend of tall, narrow design elements. It features a combination of Baroque and Mannerist touches, such as a rounded tympanum and an oval oculus framed in an unusual rectangular, scroll-like structure. The church's marble portal is richly decorated, though the rest of the facade remains relatively simple, with its pilasters and the slightly misplaced positioning of its windows.

The interior houses significant artistic treasures. Beside the main altar is a canvas depicting Saint Joseph and the Lactating Madonna, originally from the Church of the Purification of Mary. Additional artworks include Francesco Bianchi Buonavita's Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew and Saint Cajetan, attributed to Matteo Rosselli. The ceiling portrays the Life of Saint Augustine, painted by Tommaso Tommasi.

The church endured its share of hardships, including damage from earthquakes in 1742 and 1814, and it required further repairs in 1833. The Augustinian monks who once staffed the church were expelled in 1785, only to return in 1856. During World War II, the church sustained damage from bombings, yet it continues to stand as a historical and spiritual landmark.