Local before arrival
The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the official seat of the Pope. Founded in the 4th century AD, it is the oldest of the papal basilicas. Inset into its late-Baroque façade—adorned with 15 statues, each 23 ft. tall—are bronze doors from the curia in the Roman Forum, leading into the richly decorated interior designed by Borromini. Particularly remarkable is the magnificent wooden ceiling. The cloisters, a masterpiece of the Cosmatesque style from the 12th century, are also worth seeing.
