Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano e Basilica
(St John at Lateran Square and St. John at Lateran Basilica )
Leaving St Mary Major Basilica behind and proceeding trhough via Merulana you can find Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano (S. John at Lateran Square).At the centre of the square there is the tallest obelisk of Rome and also the last to be brought from Egypt . Both Augustus and Constantine considered bringing it to Rome from Thebes, but only in 357 Constantius II was able to arrange the transportation by using a specially built ship. It was located in the Circus Maximus.It is also one of the best preserved, with easily readable hieroglyphics (for the happy few who can read them). On top of it Sixtus V wanted the whole array of his heraldic symbols: not only the three mountains with the star, but also the lion holding the pears.
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 present name is a result of the importance of the baptistry in the church, and of the presence of a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Sts John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. At an early stage, it was also called the Basilica Aurea, the Golden Basilica, because of its rich decorations.
It was 90 metres long and 50-56 metres wide, and had five naves.The exterior was simple, but the interior was lavishly decorated.
The basilica was sacked by the Vandals in the 5th century, and restored by Pope St Gregory c. 460.
The first major restoration was ordered by Pope Saint Sergius (687-701). It was restored again within a century, by Pope Hadrian I (772-779).In 897, the basilica was the scene of the "cadaver synod", when Pope Stephen VI (896-897) had the body of Pope Formosus (891-896) exhumed and put on a mock trial. The corpse was convicted and desecrated. During the synod, the basilica was ominously severely damaged by an earthquake. Pope Sergius III (904-911) had the basilica completely rebuilt because of the earthquake damage. The old foundations were used, and it was built within the old perimeter. It was after this rebuilding that it was formally dedicated to St John the Baptist. The additional dedication to St John the Evangelist was made by Pope Lucius II (1144-1145).
On May 6th 1308, the basilica was totally destroyed by fire. Pope Clement V (1305-1314) started rebuilding it, but it was destroyed by fire again in 1360. Pope Urban V (1362-1370) commissioned Giovanni Stefano to rebuild it. Pope Eugene IV (1431-1447) decided to rebuild parts of it.
In 1646, the basilica was in danger of collapsing. Pope Innocent X gave the task of restoring it to Borromini, in preparation for the Holy Year of 1650. It was during Borromini's restoration that the church was given its Baroque look; it no longer looks like ancient basilica. Only the gilded ceiling and the Cosmatesque floor were kept; the former has since been restored and altered considerably. The dimensions were not changes much, the present church measuring 130 by 54 metres.
Some changes were made in 1884, when Pope Leo XIII had the Vespignianis, father and son, extend the choir and and move the apse mosaics. At around the same time, possibly from 1880, excavations were carried out which revealed remains of earlier buildings below the basilica. The façade is flanked by two Romanesque bell-towers. Modifications to the design were made by Valadier. The benedictional loggia is by Domenico Fontana, designed in 1586. The statue in the portico is of Henry IV of France, who was a protector of the basilica.
It has five large arches opening on the narthex, and is crowned by 15 high statues of Christ, Sts John the Baptist and John the Evangelist and other saints. The Loggia of Blessings is in the centre. From it, a newly elected Pope gives his blessing on the day that he first takes possession of the cathedral.
The façade faces the east, as the basilica was built before the tradition of placing the altar in the east had taken hold in Rome.
The nave has 5 aisles, as is typical of a basilica of this size. The coffered ceiling is from the 18th century. In the transept, you can see the earlier coffered ceiling. There are three papal arms in the ceiling: Those of Pope Pius VI (Medici, 1559-1565) in the centre, and those of Pius V (1566-1572) and Pius VI (1775-1799) to the sides.
Out of the Basilica, on the left you can find the statue of S. Francesco d’Assisi by Giuseppe Tonnini (1927) and on the left the Scala Santa.
The Scala Santa
It was built by Domenico Fontana by wish of Pope Sixstus V between 1585 and 1590.
In the atrium the marble groups can be found among which there is the Kiss of Judas and the Ecce Homo of Ignazio Jacometti (1854). In the centre there is the stair of Praetorium of Jerusalem which Jesus climbed up to submit to Pontium Pilate. That's why until today the faithfuls climb it up it by knees. In the middle the Scala Santa flanked by other 4 stairs is composed of 28 marble steps protected by wooden tables to avoid wearing- out. On the walls and on the vault there are frescos of GianBattista Ricci, Giacomo Stella,Paris Nogari, Andrea Lilio, Paolo Brill, Giovanni Baglioni.
The chapel is always closed but through the grating of little windows it is possible to admire the interior which appears to be a jewel of cosmatesque art of 1278. The ceiling is made of mosaics. On the walls 28 tabernacles can be found.
Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
(Holy Cross in Jerusalem Basilica)
EHoly Cross in Jerusalem Basilica was founded by the emperor Constantine in 320 to preserve the relics of the Cross brought to Rome and it was restored in 1144 by Lucius II who added the romanic bell tower.
Pope Benedict XIV had it rebuilt in the Baroque style between 1741 and 1744. The architects were Domenico Gregorini and Pietro Passalacqua (1743). The facade is composed of an elliptic foyer and of three arcades. On the left there is a closed chapel by Giotto’s school.
Go back till Piazza San Giovanni where there is the statue of S. Francesco d’Assisi: on the left there are big archs built by Giacomo della Porta by wish of Pope Gregory XII between 1572 and 1585. Then you can find the famous Via Appia which takes till Roman Castles. The first part of Via Appia is ideal to do shopping, as there are many interesting and famous shops. On the right of the archs you can find Via Sannio where every day there are many stalls.
