Church

Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

806 locals recommend,

Tips from locals

Federica
August 27, 2022
How to get there: 5 /10 minutes to walk from home. Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, also defined as the Cathedral of Rome (full name Papal archbasilica major archpriest cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist in Lateran; in Latin: Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris et Sanctorum Ioannis Baptistae et Ioannis Evangeli It is the first of the four major papal basilicas and the oldest and most important basilica in the West. Located on the hill of the Celio, the basilica is the material representation of the Holy See, which has its residence here. It is the oldest basilica in the West and cathedral in Rome. The land on which it stands was donated to the Church by Emperor Constantine, fresh from conversion, as a thank you for the victory of Ponte Milvio. It was Pope Miltiades who built the first basilica there, shortly after the edict of Milan (313). Fires, earthquakes and looting have necessitated its reconstruction three times. The current basilica dates back to the seventeenth century, when Pope Alexander VII entrusted the project to Francesco Borromini, while the facade is due to the architect Alessandro Galilei (1732). Of the previous structures were preserved the Cosmatesque floor, the apse mosaic and the grandiose ciborium. The Borrominian building with five naves has a spectacular coffered ceiling and is richly adorned with frescoes, polychrome marbles, plant and floral motifs, as well as the 12 eighteenth-century statues of the Apostles. Among the treasures of the basilica are the chapels Massimo, Torlonia and Casati, two precious ciboriums, respectively Gothic and Baroque, the medieval mosaic of the apse and the early Christian mosaic of the facade, the Roman statue of Constantine, the relics of Saints Peter and Paul and the last table of Christ.
How to get there: 5 /10 minutes to walk from home. Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, also defined as the Cathedral of Rome (full name Papal archbasilica major archpriest cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist in Lateran; in Latin: Archibasilica Sanctissimi…
Daniele
May 10, 2019
It is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome in the city of Rome and serves as the seat of the Roman Pontiff.
Ana
October 29, 2018
Is close of us, entrance free
Francesco & Sabato
May 18, 2018
Once in Rome don't miss the basilica of Saint John Lateran, Rome’s Cathedral, with its enchanted cloister. Several amazing chapels were dedicated to noble families and were designed and decorated by the best artists of the different periods. The massive church and the beautifully decorated floor deserve a visit.
Mario
March 12, 2018
The Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the Lateran. It is the oldest and highest ranking of the four papal major basilicas, giving it the unique title of "archbasilica". Because it is the oldest public church in the city of Rome, and houses the cathedral of the Roman bishop, it has the title of ecumenical mother church
The Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the Lateran. It is the oldest and highest ranking of the four papal major basilicas, giving it the unique title of "archbasilica". Because it is the oldest public church in the city of Rome, and houses the ca…

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Location
4 Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano
Roma, Lazio