Basilica of Saint John Lateran

The Lateran Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and thus outranks Saint Peter's as Catholicism's highest-ranking church. Constantine founded the first basilica around 313 on land seized from the Laterani family; after earthquakes and fires, Francesco Borromini remodeled the nave in 1646-1650 in restrained Baroque while preserving early-Christian columns. The twelve monumental apostle niches lining the nave are among Rome's most iconic sculpture groups. Popes resided here until the 14th century; the inscription above the entrance still reads Mater et Caput Omnium Ecclesiarum, Mother and Head of All Churches. Visitors usually skip past for Saint Peter's but find emptier halls, the Cosmati cloister and across the street the Scala Santa, the Holy Stairs.