Basilica of Saint-John Lateran

In italian : Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano

Substantially renovated in the proportions of the original building, the Basilica of Saint John the Lateran remains impressive and preserves a superb cloister that escaped a devastating fire. Mother of all the churches dating back to the year 320, it is the cathedral of Rome, the seat of the bishop of Rome who is the Pope himself, the Basilica of Saint Peter being the Vatican Church.
Superb colossal statues of the apostles accompany the visitor to the elegant ciborium. Next to it is the beautiful octagonal Lateran Baptistery of paleochristian origin and which retains original elements.

Presentation of the basilica

Lateran ciborium

The church was rebuilt and embellished many times throughout history, due to earthquakes, looting or fires. From its original version, it retains above all its proportions and general form, but also a large part of the neighboring baptistery.
It was the emperor Constantine who built the first basilica here around the year 320 AD. This makes it the oldest church, the mother of all, which still inspires and inspires Christian buildings.
Rebuilt by Nicholas IV at the end of the 13th century, it burned shortly after, in 1308. Rebuilt and decorated by Giotto afterwards, a fire struck her again in 1360.
In the middle of the 17th century, Innocent X entrusted to Francesco Borromini his reconstruction, embellishing the interior with the twelve niches hosting the large statues of the apostles. The façade is more recent and dates from 1734, whose project was entrusted to the Florentine Alessandro Galilei who won a competition – with doubtful sincerity – convened by Pope Clement XII, also from Florence.
The apse and its mosaics were completely renovated at the end of the 19th century.

The interior is 130 meters long. There are several relics related to Christ. There remains a small part of the fresco by Giotto, which represents Boniface VIII in the Jubilee of 1300.

Baptistery and obelisk

Mention should be made of the very beautiful cloister, as well as the Lateran baptistery in the immediate vicinity of the basilica, of octagonal shape, which has preserved beautiful Paleochristian remains like mosaics.
On the Piazza del Laterano Square rises a high Egyptian obelisk from the 15th century BC, originally from Karnak. With its 36 meters, it is the largest of the Egyptian obelisks.

Scala Santa and Sancta Sanctorum

The Scala Santa, the holy staircase, is located opposite the Lateran Palace and the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, on the other side of the avenue. It is located in the church Sancta Sanctorum, originally a papal chapel, decorated by the Cosmates with 13th century ornaments.

Information, opening hours, hotels and map

• Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano
  Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano
  Timetables
  Basilica: open every day from 7 am to 6:30 pm
  Cloister: 9am to 6pm (€ 2,00)
  Basilica Museum: 10 am – 5:30 pm
• Lateran Baptistery
  Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, 4
  Every day from 7 am to 12:30 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm
• Scala Santa
  Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, 14
  Monday to Saturday: 6 am – 1:30 pm / 3 pm – 6:30 pm (October to March). Until 7 pm from April to September
  Sundays and holidays: 7 am – 1:30 pm / 3 pm – 6:30 pm (October to March). Until 7 pm from April to September
  Papal Chapel Sancta Sanctorum: 9:30 am – 12:40 pm and 3:00 pm – 5:10 pm (except Sundays and holidays), visit of about 20 minutes. Admission € 3.50.

Further informations

• Official website : vatican.va
• On Wikipedia
• Portal of the city : 060608

Sélection d’hébergements près de la basilique

• Good hotels and accommodation sorted BY PRICE less than 600 meters from the Lateran Basilican
• Good hotels and accommodation sorted BY DISTANCE from the basilica

Address : Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano, 4, 00184 Roma

Photo gallery