- Immerse yourself in the religious history and papal culture of St. John Lateran, the oldest church in the western world, and the entire complex.
- This consists of the Cloister, the Baptistery, the Holy Stairs (Scala Santa), and its Sancta Sanctorum chapel.
- Explore this sacred location at your own pace with an informative audio guide available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.
- The St. John Lateran Basilica has a history dating back to early Christianity and was also where the Pope lived up to the XIV century.
- Take note of the extraordinary details and Gothic architecture of the church, especially the 7-meter tall statue of Jesus – with the saints by his side – at the entrance, and the interior symbolic paintings of the Paleo-Christian tradition.
- The Cloister is the widest in the city at 36-meters on each side. The gilded marble columns were carved by the most talented stonemasons of Rome – the Vassallettos.
- Originally a place for monks to rest, pray, and meditate – feel the calm energy of this 800-year-old structure as you continue your self-guided tour.
- The Baptistery is next with its iconic dome and two-tier colonnade. Look out for faded mosaic decorations and frescoes, and art left by artists such as Carlo Rainaldi (the altar), and Luigi Valadier (the statue of St. John Baptiste).
- The Scala Santa or ‘Holy Stairs’ are extremely revered by worshippers who only climb up the stairs strictly on their knees.
- Legend has it that these 28 marble steps were the stairs that Jesus climbed upon to Pontius Pilate’s office during his trial.
- The Sancta Sanctorum chapel is considered to be one of the holiest Christian spaces and holds ancient relics including an ancient image of Jesus the Saviour holding the New Testament.
- Face masks are mandatory.
- Both male and female visitors must follow an appropriate dress code wearing clothes that cover both shoulders and knees and no hats/caps.
- To make the best of this 2-hour experience, start with the Basilica and the Cloister, and the Treasure Museum. Then proceed to the Baptistery located in the square behind.
- Complete your tour by visiting the Holy Stairs and admiring the Chapel of the Sancta Sanctorum.
- If you only have 1 hour, visit just the Basilica and its Cloister first, followed by the Holy Stairs and Sancta Sanctorum.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
