San Giovanni to Testaccio - Rome - page 484

PRACTICALITIES

» MAP
» www.basilicasanclemente.com
» Via di San Giovanni in Laterano
» church/excavations free/€5
» 9am-12.30pm & 3-6pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun
» Colosseo

PALAZZO LATERANO
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(Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano; San Giovanni) Flanking Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano, itself
dominated by Rome's oldest and tallest obelisk MAP GOOGLE MAP , is Domenico
Fontana's 16th-century Palazzo Laterano. Part of the original 4th-century complex of the
Basilica di San Giovanni, it was the official papal residence until the papacy moved to the
Vatican in 1377, and today houses offices of the diocese of Rome.

PALACE

BATTISTERO
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(Baptistry; Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano; 7am-12.30pm & 4-7pm; San Giovanni) Around the corner
from the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano is the fascinating octagonal battistero
(baptistry). Built by Constantine in the 4th century, it served as the prototype for later
Christian churches and bell towers. The chief interest, apart from the architecture, is the
decorative mosaics, some of which date back to the 5th century.

CHAPEL

SCALA SANTA & SANCTA SANCTORUM
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CHAPEL

(Piazza di San Giovanni in Laterano 14; Scala/Sancta free/€3.50; Scala 6.15am-noon & 3.30-6.30pm summer,

6.15am-noon & 3-6pm winter, Sancta Sanctorum 9.30am-noon & 3-5pm, closed Wed am & Sun year-round; San