San Giovanni in Laterano

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is one of the most beautiful churches in Rome and one of its most sacred sites. It is known as the "Cathedral of Rome and the World" and was commissioned by Emperor Constantine shortly after issuing the edict of 313, which granted freedom of worship to all religions, including Christianity. For over a thousand years, before the papal seat was moved to the Vatican, St. John Lateran was the heart of Christendom. The architectural complex of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Baptistry, the Papal Palace, and the Sancta Sanctorum Chapel is of great historical and artistic importance. Although the basilica has undergone many interventions over time, its interior space remains solemn and impressive. The visit to St. John Lateran begins in the spacious square of the same name, where an Egyptian obelisk of red granite stands.