A complex, not just a single church

San Giovanni in Laterano is an entire monumental "hub": the basilica, the cloister, the baptistery, the Scala Santa across the way, and the obelisk on the square. Here are the treasures you can't miss, in the order you'll see them.

Inside the basilica

1. Galilei's façade — Monumental, with colossal statues of Christ, the saints and the Doctors of the Church silhouetted against the sky: one of the most imposing façades in Rome.

2. Borromini's nave — The brilliant Baroque restoration that placed the twelve great statues of the Apostles in the niches — masterpieces of seventeenth-century sculpture.

3. The gilded coffered ceiling and the Cosmatesque floor.

4. The papal cathedra and the Gothic baldachin above the papal altar, where only the Pope celebrates Mass.

5. The transept and the relics — including, by tradition, the heads of Saints Peter and Paul above the altar.

The cloister

6. The Cosmatesque cloister (13th century) — One of the most beautiful in Rome: twisted columns inlaid with golden mosaics, an oasis of calm. Small entrance ticket required.

Around the basilica

7. The Battistero lateranense — The oldest monumental baptistery in the Christian world, octagonal in plan, the model for every baptistery built afterward.

8. The Lateran obelisk — On the square: the oldest and tallest Egyptian obelisk in Rome (over 32 metres), brought from Karnak.

9. The Scala Santa — Right across the way. → The Scala Santa in Rome

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Suggested itinerary (1.5 hours)

  1. Basilica (40 min): the façade, Borromini's nave, the statues of the Apostles, the papal altar.
  2. Cloister (20 min): the Cosmatesque jewel.
  3. Baptistery (15 min): the oldest in the Christian world.
  4. Obelisk on the square and the Scala Santa across the way (30 min).

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see at San Giovanni in Laterano? Borromini's Baroque interior with the statues of the Apostles, the gilded ceiling, the papal altar with its Gothic baldachin, the Cosmatesque cloister, the Battistero lateranense, the Egyptian obelisk on the square, and the Scala Santa across the way.

What is the cloister of San Giovanni in Laterano? A 13th-century cloister, among the most beautiful in Rome, with twisted columns inlaid with golden mosaics (Cosmatesque style). You can visit it with a small ticket.

How old is the obelisk at San Giovanni? It is the oldest and tallest Egyptian obelisk in Rome (over 32 metres), dating to the 15th century BC, brought from the temple of Karnak and carried to Rome in imperial times.

What is the Battistero lateranense? It is the oldest monumental baptistery in the Christian world, octagonal in plan: it served as the model for every baptistery built afterward.

How much time do you need to visit the complex? About 1.5 hours for the basilica, cloister and baptistery, plus 30 minutes for the obelisk and the Scala Santa across the way.

See also

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Article #255 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026