Page 442 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

440  ROME AND LAZIO

7 San Giovanni in Laterano VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

San Giovanni, the cathedral of Rome, was founded by Emperor Practical Information
Constantine in the early 4th century. It has been rebuilt several Piazza di San Giovanni in
times, notably in 1646, when Borromini restyled the interior, Laterano. Map 7 C2.
Tel 06 69 88 64 93. Cathedral:
but retains its original basilica form. Before the papacy moved Open 7am– 6:30pm daily.
to Avignon in 1309, the adjoining Cloisters: Open 9am–6pm daily.
Lateran Palace was the official papal Museum: Open 10am–5:30pm
residence. The present structure daily. Baptistry: Open 7am–
12:30pm, 4–6:30pm daily.
dates from 1589, but older parts
survive, like the Scala Santa Transport
@ 16, 81, 85, 87, 650. v 3.
(Holy Staircase), which Christ is q San Giovanni.
said to have climbed at his trial.

North façade
Baptistry
Though much restored, East Façade
the octagonal baptistry The main entrance, on
contains some beautiful the east façade (1735), is
5th-century mosaics. adorned with statues of
Christ and the Apostles.
Museum Apse
entrance

Lateran
Palace

Papal Altar
The Gothic baldacchino,
which rises over the papal On Maundy
altar, is decorated with Thursday the pope,
14th-century frescoes. as Bishop of Rome,
gives a blessing from
the loggia of the
The Corsini Main city’s main cathedral.
Chapel was built entrance
in the 1730s for Pope
Clement XII Corsini,
who lies buried in a
porphyry tomb from
the Pantheon.
Boniface VIII Fresco
Possibly by Giotto, this
fragment shows the
Cloisters pope announcing the
Built by the Vassalletto family in about 1220, the Holy Year of 1300,
cloisters are remarkable for their twisted columns which attracted around
and inlaid marble mosaics. two million pilgrims.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp573–6 and pp 596–600

440-441_EW_Italy.indd 440 26/04/16 5:19 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.9)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm