Pilgrim's Rome

After lunch, the sun came out and we decided to walk back and hit some of the sights along the way. We followed Rick Steves' Pilgrim's Rome tour.

The Porta San Giovanni was inaugurated in 1574 and provides entry from routes south of the city.

The Porta San Giovanni replaced the nearby Porta Asinaria that was built between 270-273. 

Next to it is the Church of San Giovanni in Laterano--the first Christian church in the city of Rome. It was opened in AD 318 and all popes were crowned here until 1870. It still serves as the home church of the Bishop of Rome--the Pope. It's considered Vatican property.

Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity and a statue of him stands in the portico. The holes in his head once held a crown. 

The green doors in the portico are the original doors from ancient Rome's Senate House in the Forum.  Rick says the doors were moved here in 1650 to remind people that the Church was now the lawmaker for Europe.

After 1600, Barromini redesigned the interior in the Baroque style but left the ceiling from the Renaissance period.

The nave is lined with statues of apostles.

The baldacchino (ceremonial canopy) in the main altar.

The upper cage of the baldocchino contains silver statues of St. Peter & St. Paul. The statues are supposed to contain pieces of their heads but apparently the DNA from St. Peter's head doesn't match the DNA of his body in St. Peter's. Morbid.

The Bishop's Chair--once elected, the pope has to actually sit here before officially becoming the Pope.

Semicircular dome of the apse with mosaics designed in 450 but restored in the 19th center.

Mosaic of the head of Christ--this was one of the first legal images of Christ ever seen in Rome.

Across the street is a building that houses the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs).

You can't take a photo of the actual stairs but this staircase right next door is similar. The Holy Stairs are 28 marble steps from Pontius Pilate's residence in Jerusalem which Jesus climbed on the day he was sentenced to death. The faithful climb these Scala Santa on their knees while reciting prayers. Don't worry, if you don't know them, the gift shop sells a copy. There is no fee to climb the steps.

Once you exit the chapel at the top of the stairs, look closely to see graffiti. This one dates from 1773.

At most tourist sights in Rome, you'll see heavily armored guards in patrol.

The world's tallest obelisk is in Rome, near the Scala Santa. This dates from the 15th century.

Rome has 13 obelisks, the most of any city in the world. The Romans brought the obelisks from Egypt to display in prominent places in Rome to celebrate their occupation of Egypt.

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