Hotel in Italien Buchen - filcoo Italien Hotel, Hotel Italien, Pensionen Italien, Italien Pensionen, B&B Italien, Reiseführer Italien

Hotel, Pensionen und Hostels in Italien: Reservieren Sie Online

Home

Buchung ändern/stornieren

Kundenservice

Hotels in Italien

Reiseführer Italien

Startseite > Reiseführer zu Italien > Reiseführer zu Rom > Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Introduzione
History
Location

ATTRACTIONS

Holy Steps
Lateran cloister
Lateran baptistry
Papal Tombs

USEFUL INFORMATION

Utili

Introduzione

The Basilica of St. John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the cathedral church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope. Officially named Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris (Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior), it is the oldest and ranks first (being the only cathedral in Rome) among the four major basilicas of Rome, and holds the title of ecumenical mother church (mother church of the whole inhabited world) among Roman Catholics. The current archpriest of St. John Lateran is Camillo Cardinal Ruini, Papal Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome.

An inscription on the facade, Christo Salvatore, dedicates the Lateran as Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour, for all patriarchal basilicas are dedicated to Christ himself. As the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, containing the papal throne (Cathedra Romana), it ranks above all other churches in the Roman Catholic Church, even above St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

History

It is the first cathedral of Rome, where Emperor Constantine allowed the Pope to set up the episcopal chair after 312. The first mention in ancient sources is from 313, when a consistory of bishops was held in domum Faustae in Laterano. This refers to Fausta, Constantine's second wife, who was a convert. The Popes lived in the Lateran palace until Clement V (1305-1314) transferred the papal seat to Avignon. After the return of the Pope to Rome in 1377, the Vatican palace was chosen as the papal residence.

The property belonged to the Laterani family, but when they fell from grace it was confiscated. Constantine gave it to the church, and the church was built. It was first known as the Basilica Salvatoris, Basilica of the Saviour. The present name is a result of the importance of the baptistry in the church, and of the presence of a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Sts John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. At an early stage, it was also called the Basilica Aurea, the Golden Basilica, because of its rich decorations.

The basilica was sacked by the Vandals in the 5th century, and restored by Pope St Gregory c. 460. The first major restoration was ordered by Pope Saint Sergius (687-701). It was restored again within a century, by Pope Hadrian I (772-779).
In 897, the basilica was the scene of the "cadaver synod", when Pope Stephen VI (896-897) had the body of Pope Formosus (891-896) exhumed and put on a mock trial. The corpse was convicted and desecrated. During the synod, the basilica was ominously severely damaged by an earthquake.

Pope Sergius III (904-911) had the basilica completely rebuilt because of the earthquake damage. The old foundations were used, and it was built within the old perimeter. It was after this rebuilding that it was formally dedicated to St John the Baptist. The additional dedication to St John the Evangelist was made by Pope Lucius II (1144-1145).

On May 6th 1308, the basilica was totally destroyed by fire. Pope Clement V (1305-1314) started rebuilding it, but it was destroyed by fire again in 1360. Pope Urban V (1362-1370) commissioned Giovanni Stefano to rebuild it. Pope Eugene IV (1431-1447) decided to rebuild parts of it.

In 1646, the basilica was in danger of collapsing. Pope Innocent X gave the task of restoring it to Borromini, in preparation for the Holy Year of 1650. It was during Borromini's restoration that the church was given its Baroque look; it no longer looks like ancient basilica. Only the gilded ceiling and the Cosmatesque floor were kept; the former has since been restored and altered considerably. The dimensions were not changes much, the present church measuring 130 by 54 metres.

Some changes were made in 1884, when Pope Leo XIII had the Vespignianis, father and son, extend the choir and and move the apse mosaics. At around the same time, possibly from 1880, excavations were carried out which revealed remains of earlier buildings below the basilica.

Further excavations were carried out 1934-1938. It was revealed that the basilica was built on the foundations of the barracks of the equites singulares, part of Maxentius' army. This adds another factor to the choice of the site; by demolishing the barracks of his enemy and erecting a Christian basilica over the foundations, Constantine's victory was made even more complete.

Location

Via Vittorio Emanuele Filiberto (main entrance); Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano (side entrance).

Holy Steps

A famous papal sanctuary located adjacent to the Basilica, the Holy Staircase is believed to be the actual steps that Jesus climbed the day He was sentenced to death. Tradition holds that the stairs were ordered sent from Jerusalem to Rome by Saint Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine I in 334. Though not completely documented, this has been believed for over 1,200 years, since it was first mentioned in papal documents in 844. The stairs are known as the Scala Pilati (Pilate's stairway) or the Scala Sancta (holy stairway).

It has been proven that the staircase was first located in the Patriarchum, the complex of palaces that was the ancient seat of popes. In 1589, Pope Sixtus V had it located to its present location in front of the ancient palatine chapel (the Sancta Sactorum). Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) restored the staircase, and promoted its veneration as one of Christianity's great relics. The pope climbed the 28 steps on his knees many times, an act of veneration done that was done traditionally then, and continues to this day. A prayer related to the passion of Jesus Christ is recited upon each of the 28 steps.

Lateran cloister

Between the basilica and the city wall there was in former times the great monastery, in which dwelt the community of monks whose duty it was to provide the services in the basilica. The only part of it which still survives is the cloister, surrounded by graceful columns of inlaid marble. They are of a style intermediate between the Romanesque proper and the Gothic, and are the work of Vassellectus and the Cosmati. This beautiful cloister dates to the early 13th century.

Lateran baptistry

The octagonal Lateran Baptistry stands somewhat apart from the basilica. It was founded by Pope Sixtus III, perhaps on an earlier structure, for a legend grew up that Constantine the Great had been baptized there and enriched the structure. (He was actually baptised in the East, by an Arian bishop.) This baptistry was for many generations the only baptistery in Rome, and its octagonal structure, centered upon the large basin for full immersions provided a model for others throughout Italy, and even an iconic motif of illuminated manuscripts, “The fountain of Life”.

Papal Tombs

There are six papal tombs inside the basilica: Alexander III (right aisles), Sergius IV (right aisles), Clement XIII Corsini (left aisle), Martin V (in front of the confessio) by Simone Ghini; Innocent III (right transept); and Leo XIII (left transept), by G.Tadolini (1907). The latter was the last pope not to be entombed in St. Peter's Basilica.

Utili

Catholic Encyclopedia Article on the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

Illustrated Guide of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

Lateran entry from “Guide to the Churches of Rome”

Satellite Photo of St. John Lateran

Hotels in Roma
The Kennedy Hotel Single room - Von 65€ Twin room - Von 79€ Triple room - Von 100€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Delle Muse doppia uso singola - Von 55€ Twin room - Von 68€ Triple room - Von 90€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Solis Double room - Von 105€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Farnese Single room - Von 120€ Twin room - Von 150€ Triple room - Von 200€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Maryelen Triple room - Von 80€ Double room - Von 75€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Coppede Single room - Von 55€ Twin room - Von 80€ Triple room - Von 95€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Giglio Dell'Opera Single room - Von 60€ Double room - Von 62€ Triple room - Von 85€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Beethoven Single room - Von 50€ Twin room - Von 60€ Triple room - Von 85€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Sei a Roma Double room - Von 65€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Cambridge Single room - Von 50€ Twin room - Von 58€ Triple room - Von 85€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Novecento Single room - Von 65€ Double room - Von 79€ Triple room - Von 95€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Asian Delight Triple room - Von 70€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Aurora Garden Single room - Von 75€ Double room - Von 95€ Triple room - Von 105€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Versailles Single room - Von 36€ Double room - Von 80€ Triple room - Von 95€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Laurence Single room - Von 55€ Double room - Von 75€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Martini Double room - Von 100€ Triple room - Von 130€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Petra & Residence Single room - Von 50€ Double room - Von 60€ Triple room - Von 130€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Giubileo Twin room - Von 70€ Triple room - Von 110€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Eur Suite Hotel Superior Suite - Von 70€ Double room - Von 60€ Suite - Von 65€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Priscilla Double room - Von 75€ Triple room - Von 90€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Euro Quiris Single room - Von 50€ Double room - Von 60€ Triple room - Von 100€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
RomAntica Single room - Von 45€ Twin room - Von 60€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Angulus Ridet Double room - Von 75€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Bobby's GREEN ROOM - Von 60€ Green room tripla - Von 85€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Casa di Iginia e Paolo camera doppia matr - Von 55€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Locanda Cairoli Single room - Von 130€ Double room - Von 165€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Eurogarden doppia uso singola - Von 79€ Twin room - Von 89€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
66 Imperial Inn Double room - Von 90€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Caracalla Single room - Von 55€ Double room - Von 70€ Triple room - Von 110€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Mirage singola letto fran - Von 55€ Suite - Von 80€ Triple room - Von 87€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Arancio Double room - Von 70€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Residence Le Petit apartment 2 pax - Von 70€ apartment 4 pax - Von 95€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Le Petit Single room - Von 70€ Terrace room - Von 110€ Triple room - Von 110€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Vale & Vale Double room - Von 85€ Triple room - Von 105€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Alimandi Vaticano Doppia Uso Singola - Von 140€ Doppia Superior - Von 190€ Triple room - Von 200€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Bailey's Hotel Single room - Von 115€ Double room - Von 135€ Triple room - Von 190€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Arcadia Single room - Von 45€ Double room - Von 55€ Triple room - Von 70€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Testa Single room - Von 40€ Twin room - Von 70€ Triple room - Von 80€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Astoria Garden Single room - Von 65€ Double room - Von 88€ Triple room - Von 115€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Elide Double room - Von 70€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Tourist House Double room - Von 65€ Triple room - Von 75€ Quadruple room - Von 80€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Borromeo Single room - Von 65€ Double room - Von 75€ Triple room - Von 110€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Arapacis Single room - Von 65€ Double room - Von 75€ Triple room - Von 95€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Grand Hotel Ritz Single room - Von 105€ Superior Suite - Von 320€ Triple room - Von 165€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Clarin Hotel Double room - Von 75€ Triple room - Von 100€ Quadruple room - Von 125€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
A San Pietro Rooms Double shared bath - Von 75€ Triple shared bath - Von 90€ Quadruple shared b - Von 110€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Orto di Roma Single room - Von 60€ Double room - Von 75€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Villa Icidia Single room - Von 83€ Double room - Von 110€ Triple room - Von 132€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
1999 Filemone Single room - Von 55€ Quadruple room - Von 130€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Incanto Romano Double room - Von 70€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
F&M Rooms Single room - Von 45€ camera matrimonial - Von 80€ Triple room - Von 90€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Felice Single room - Von 55€ Twin room - Von 65€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Maggiore Single room - Von 65€ Double room - Von 75€ Triple room - Von 100€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Athena Single room - Von 55€ Twin room - Von 75€ Triple room - Von 105€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Casale Altavilla Suite - Von 110€ Suite - Von 130€ Family room - Von 150€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Marco Polo Single room - Von 56€ Twin room - Von 59€ Triple room - Von 89€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
David' Flat Double room - Von 80€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
RomeBed Single room - Von 35€ Twin room - Von 52€ Triple room - Von 75€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Al Colonnato di San Pietro Matrimoniale con B - Von 100€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
My Life Twin room - Von 90€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Margot Guest House Double room - Von 65€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Roma 2000 Double room - Von 80€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Santa Maria Twin room - Von 165€ Triple room - Von 200€ Quadruple room - Von 260€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Rome Wellness Double room - Von 99€ Quadruple room - Von 115€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Mancini Park Hotel Single room - Von 70€ Superior Suite - Von 100€ Triple room - Von 100€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
San Michele a Porta Pia Double room - Von 70€ Triple room - Von 70€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
CK Double room - Von 50€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Baldassini Porpora - Von 80€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Accomodation Delia Triple room - Von 90€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Good Rome Double room - Von 75€ Triple room - Von 95€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Annette Superior Suite - Von 65€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Barberini Single room - Von 181€ Double room - Von 205€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
3 Coins Double room - Von 90€ Triple room - Von 130€ Quadruple room - Von 150€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Farini Single room - Von 90€ Double room - Von 100€ Triple room - Von 120€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Suite in Rome Double room - Von 90€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
111 Single room - Von 70€ Double room - Von 85€ Triple room - Von 115€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Eurorooms Double room - Von 85€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Prestige Guest House Double room - Von 149€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Relais Fontana Di Trevi Superior Suite - Von 350€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Holiday Paradise Twin room - Von 65€ Triple room - Von 95€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Suite Beccaria Single room - Von 90€ Twin room - Von 120€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Cristiano Vacanze Romane Twin room - Von 80€ Triple room - Von 140€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Residenza D&D Twin room - Von 60€ Triple room - Von 75€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Residenza Santa Maria Single room - Von 100€ Double room - Von 120€ Triple room - Von 150€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Crosti Hotel Single room - Von 50€ Double room - Von 75€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
A Casa Di Alex Single room - Von 40€ Twin room - Von 50€ Triple room - Von 75€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Campo de Fiori Apartment - Von 90€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Spagna Apartment - Von 200€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Gabriella Single room - Von 70€ Twin room - Von 75€ Triple room - Von 110€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Papavista Relais Single room - Von 90€ Twin room - Von 110€ Triple room - Von 140€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Fleur De Lis Double room - Von 65€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Kiwi Bed and Breakfast Double room - Von 55€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Almaclaudia Double room - Von 80€ Triple room - Von 90€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Caput Mundi single room privat - Von 50€ double room privat - Von 55€ triple room privat - Von 70€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Hotel Filippo Roma Double room - Von 65€ Triple room - Von 80€ Quadruple room - Von 100€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Julius Caesar Apartment Apartment - Von 59€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
La Casa di Asa Double room - Von 65€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
La Dimora del Conte Tacchia Suite - Von 130€ Suite - Von 150€ Suite - Von 150€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Green Garden Twin room - Von 60€ Triple room - Von 90€ Quadruple room - Von 20€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
Le Petit Hotel Single room - Von 39€ Twin room - Von 39€ Triple room - Von 49€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels
La Casa di Rosy Single room - Von 35€ Twin room - Von 45€ Triple room - Von 55€ Besuchen sie die homepage des hotels