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Rome » San Giovanni in Laterano

The façade of San Giovanni
(a photo by MacBook Joe)

The Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, not the Basilica of St. Peter which is mistakenly thought to be such by many tourists. Again, Saint John Lateran is "the mother and the head of all churches in the city and the entire world" and this is what the Latin inscription on its magnificent façade states. The church was built in 314 AD by the first Christian emperor of Rome - Constantine the Great and witnessed many important historical events. Charlemagne himself was baptized in this church in 774 AD. All popes were consecrated in front of its altar until 19th century. Here, in 1929, Benito Mussolini signed the famous Lateran Pacts with the Holy See, which regularized the relation between the state and the church.

The interior
(a photo by Jari Kurittu)

The graceful façade of San Giovanni in Laterano is famous for the statues of Christ and his twelve apostles, which can be seen from far away, and its splendid bronze gates. During the centuries the interior has been changed many times after fires, earthquakes and deliberate reconstructions. Its contemporary outlook is a mostly a work of the forworn Baroque genius Borromini, who transformed to large scale the church’s interior in the period from 1646 to 1650. Some older parts of this Christian temple are preserved too, such as the wonderful wooden ceilings and the 14th-cenury Gothic monstrance above the altar. It is believed that this monstrance keeps the skulls of St. Peter and St. Paul. Behind the first column along the right path you can see some fresco fragments, attributed to Giotto. They depict Pope Boniface VIII announcing the first Jubilee year of 1300. But all these fragments pale before the gallery, an incredible ensemble on the walls along the southern path.

The Lateran Baptistery
(a photo by Lawrence OP)

The Lateran Baptistery (San Giovanni in Fonte) is related to the church, although it has a separate entrance. This is the oldest baptistery in Italy. It has an octagonal shape and is resembled by many other similar structures in the entire country. It is the only part of the oldest church from 4th century that has preserved until present day, of course, after numerous restorations. The most interesting thing in the baptistery is the 5th-century sparkling mosaic made of gilt against deep blue background.

In the north-eastern end of the square in front of the church (Piazza di San Giovanni) is situated the marble holy Steps (Scala Santa) – it is believed that they are taken from the palace of Pontius Pilatus in Jerusalem and Christ walked on them before the judgement. The repentant pilgrims who climb Scala Santa on knees believe that for each step they will receive a absolution of nine years in the purgatory.