St John Lateran

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St John Lateran

The oldest church in the world

Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano
Rome, Rome 00184
+39 6 0669 8643

San Giovanni in Laterano is the oldest church in the world. It was founded by Pope Melchiade at the start of the 4th century on the ruins of the villa of the Roman family, the Laterani. The church's current appearance was created by Borromini for the 1650 Jubilee. Although he retained the 16th century ceiling and floor, the architect altered the appearance by joining pairs of columns in the central nave to make a single pillar inside. In this he built coloured marble niches and placed statues of the apostles. In 1735, Alessandro Galilei renewed the façade entirely in travertine stone and crowned it with 15 statues, and at the end of the 19th century the apse was also rebuilt. The admission to the basilica is free.

Review © 2009, Wcities

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