For centuries the Basilica served as the baptismal church. In 1340, Giovanni da Campione built a baptistery inside, which remained there until 1660, when the baptismal rite was transferred over to the Cathedral. In 1898 the baptistery was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style by Viginio Muzio. The statues depicting the Virtues outside the church are original, along with the statue of St. John the Baptist and the bas-reliefs of the Life of Jesus found inside.