BASILICA DI SAN GIOVANNI IN LATERANO

One of the oldest churches in the world - founded in 311 - is the seat of the Archdiocese of Rome.

Until the early 14th^century , when the popes moved to Avignon, the Lateran was the seat of the Papal Administration. We owe the Mannerist and Baroque Lateran we see today to Sixtus V (1585-1590). Since Henry IV, who made generous offerings to the basilica, the head of the French state has been a canon of the Lateran. A statue of the good king stands beneath the entrance portico. It's also worth noting that the Lateran was the site of the 1929 agreement between the Italian (Fascist) state and the Vatican, which put an end to the dispute that had existed between them since the conquest of Rome by Italian Unionist troops in 1871.

The façade, dating from 1738, is much later than the interior. It was designed by Alessandro Galilei. On the right, the Holy Door is only opened in jubilee years.

The transept, redesigned by Giacomo della Porta and the Cavalier d'Arpin between 1597 and 1601, is the most striking example of Roman Mannerism. Jacopo Torriti's^13th-century mosaics are a masterpiece of medieval art.

The Baptistery. Founded by Constantine in the 4th^century , it is separate from the church, as catechumens were not allowed access to the sanctuary. It was in the^5th century that the porphyry columns at the center of the building were installed. Take a look at the adjoining chapels: those of Saint-Venance, Sainte-Rufine and Seconde, as well as that of Saint-Jean: ancient mosaics have been preserved here. Leaving the baptistery, you pass the pink granite obelisk, brought from Egypt to be placed in the Circus Maximus and transported here by Sixtus V.

The Scala Santa, not far from the basilica, was built by Carlo Fontana for Sixtus V in 1590, on the site of and reusing the remains of what had been the papal oratory in the old Lateran palace, and recovering the venerated relics. In particular, the Scala Santa, the staircase believed to have been climbed by Christ. This staircase was miraculously transported to the Lateran by Saint Helena, mother of Constantine. Sixtus V had it installed in 1589. The other major relic is an icon depicting Christ. On the outside wall, a niche bears a mosaic showing Jesus giving the keys to Pope Sylvester and the imperial insignia to Constantine. A summary of the Investiture Dispute.