Roma - Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

The name "Lateran" goes back to the Lateranus family, that once owned the place. The Laterani lost their properties when one of the Laterani was accused by Nero of conspiracy against the Emperor.

The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran as well as the Lateran Palace next to it are part of Italy, but as a result of the 1929 Lateran Treaty, a a property of the Holy See and so have extraterritorial privileges.

The Lateran Palace was donated to the "Bishop of Rome" by Constantine I. The palace was converted and extended, becoming the residence of Pope Silvester I.

During the Avignon Papacy (1309 - 1377) the Palace and the Basilica crumbled and burnt twice. When the Papacy returned from Avignon to Rome, the Archbasilica and the Palace were deemed inadequate considering their severe damage. So the Popes resided at the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere and later at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

Finally the original Palace was demolished and replaced with a new edifice, commissioned by Pope Sixtus V. The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran got a massive Baroque façade in 1735, designed by Alessandro Galilei.