Visiting Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Rome’s Oldest Basilica
Known as the ‘Mother Church of the Whole World’ among Catholics, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran is the oldest of Rome’s four major Papal Basilicas and functioned as the official seat of the Pope until 1870. Its rich historicity, magnificent architecture, and sacrilegious importance attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The present-day neo-classical structure of the cathedral is a mark of the splendid craftsmanship of the architect Alessandro Galilei in the 18th century.
The spectacular front doors taken from the Senate Hall are older than the Basilica itself and reminiscent of its Roman heritage. Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, as it is commonly referred to, houses the biggest Egyptian obelisk in the world, 12 baroque statues of the apostles, richly decorated marble walls, mosaics, and Cosmatesque floors. Read on to find out more about the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran Tickets, how to reach there, its opening hours, and other details that will help you plan your visit.
