In 312 Emperor Constantine won the battle against his oponent Maxentius and soon declared Chistianity the official religion of the Empire.He gave the land previously taken from disgaced family Laterani to the pope and commissioned the building of the church to the Holy Redeemer. The Lateran palace became the original residence of the popes until they moved to Avignon in 14th century. Later when they returned to Rome, the buildings on Lateran were in poor condition, and so Vatican was chosen , but the church still was used for papal coronations until 1870.
the Papal Altar
This was the first Christian church in Rome, then it is called ‘the Mother and Head of all the churches in the City and the world’. Both the church and the baptisery became the models for temples of new religion spreading all over the world.
Before it was dedicated to St.John it had been already destroyed by the barbarians in 5th century, damaged by the earthquake in 896 and still ‘waiting’ for the fire, that came in 1308. Finally there were over 20 popes contributed to the rebuilding and restoration and the present shape San Giovanni
owes to Innocent X, who in about 1650 commissioned another renovation to Borromini. He left the ceilings and the Nothern Facade, a splendid work of Fontana, the place, from which Pope give their blessings.
Even if at present Vatican is the main site, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano remains the papal church,the main cathedral of Rome, the site, where the Pope celebrates Maundy
Thursday mass and attends the annual blessing of the people.
The highlights include mosaics from the time of the first church,a fresco attributed to Giotto, and the cloisters by father and son Vassalletti. Significant are the double twisted columns and other details assembled from fragments of antique marble.
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Piazza di San Giovanni in
Laterano 4.
Opening hours :
Church 7am–6.30pm daily.
Cloister 9am–6pm daily.
Museum 9am–1pm Mon–Sat.
Baptistry 8am–12.30pm,4–7pm daily.
[photo courtesy of scazon]
