ROME HOMEPAGE » LATERANO AREA » ST. JOHN IN LATERANO

St. John in Laterano, Rome

S. Giovanni in Laterano is the first Christian Basilic to be built in Rome by Emperor Constantin. It symbolised the triumph of Christianity over paganism and it is considered the Cathedral of Rome. The dedication to S. Giovanni came later. It was destroyed by fire twice and rebuilt several times. Borromini rebuilt the interior in the 17C. The well balanced 18C façade is the major work of Alessandro Galilei (1691-1736).