Basilica of Saint John Lateran
The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran—more simply the Lateran Basilica—is Rome’s Catholic cathedral, and it’s also the seat of the bishop of Rome, meaning the pope. It’s the only “archbasilica” in the world, and it sits about four kilometres (2½ miles) northwest of Vatican City while still enjoying extraterritorial status under the 1929 Lateran Treaty. This spot traces back to an ancient Roman family, the Laterani (Laterano), whose domus grounds occupied the area. The basilica itself was founded in 324, making it the oldest public church in Rome and the oldest basilica in the Western world. Fires in the 14th century badly damaged the building, but it was rebuilt in the late 16th century during Pope Sixtus V’s reign. Later, the interior was renovated in the late 17th century, and the façade was completed in 1735 under Pope Clement XII. …
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